Rob Simmons (rugby union)

Rob Simmons (born 19 April 1989 in Theodore, Queensland) is an Australian rugby union footballer. He currently plays for Clermont in the Top 14 in France and represented Australia in international fixtures. His position is lock, but he can also play in the backrow.[2][3]

Rob Simmons
Birth nameRobert A. Simmons
Date of birth (1989-04-19) 19 April 1989 (age 35)
Place of birthTheodore, Queensland, Australia
Height200 cm (6 ft 7 in)[1]
Weight115 kg (18 st 2 lb; 254 lb)
SchoolThe Southport School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock / Flanker
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2007–10 Sunnybank ? (?)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2007 East Coast Aces 2 (0)
2014 Queensland Country 3 (6)
2018 Sydney Rays 2 (0)
2020– London Irish ()
Correct as of 14 October 2018
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–2017 Reds 112 (20)
2018–2020 Waratahs 31 (10)
Correct as of 28 July 2019
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2020 Australia 105 (15)
2008 Australia U20
2007 Australia U19
2006 Australian Schoolboys 3
Correct as of 19 September 2019

Early life

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Simmons was born in Theodore, Queensland.[4] He attended The Southport School, on the Gold Coast in Queensland, and played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 2006.[5]

Simmons was selected for the Australian U19s representative side in 2007. He played for the Australian Under 20 side at the 2008 IRB Junior World Cup in Wales.[6]

Career

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In 2007, Simmons played for the East Coast Aces in the inaugural Australian Rugby Championship. He made his Super Rugby debut for the Queensland Reds in South Africa off the bench against the Bulls at the beginning of the 2009 season.[6]

Simmons made his test rugby debut for Australia in 2010, playing against South Africa in Brisbane.[6]

Simmons scored with a 2nd minute intercept try in Australia's Rugby World Cup 2015 Semi-final win over Argentina. This was the fastest try of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.[6][7]

On 16 January 2015, Simmons, along with teammate Karmichael Hunt, were appointed vice-captains of the Queensland Reds.[8][9][10][11][12]

In late 2017, Rob Simmons was axed by the Queensland Reds after playing almost ten years of rugby in Queensland.[13]

In early 2018, Simmons left the Queensland Reds and joined fellow Australian Super Rugby team, the New South Wales Waratahs.[14][15]

In July 2020, it was announced that Simmons would join English Premiership Rugby side London Irish ahead of the 2020–21 season.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Rob Simmons". rugby.com.au. Australian Rugby Union. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  2. ^ Josh Massoud. "Physical edge earns Wallabies call-up for Reds star Rob Simmons". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  3. ^ "Simmons a future Wallaby star, says Eales". Theaustralian.com.au. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  4. ^ "Rob Simmons | Rugby Player | Biography". wallabies.rugby. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  5. ^ "The Nurseries of Australian Schoolboys' Rugby" (PDF). Australian Schools Rugby Union. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d "Rob Simmons Queensland Reds profile". QRU. Archived from the original on 27 December 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  7. ^ Matthews, Daniel (25 October 2015). "Operation Intercept - Argentina the latest victims of Australia's handy habit". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  8. ^ "Slipper to captain Reds in 2015, Karmichael Hunt to vice captain". The Roar. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  9. ^ "James Slipper to captain Reds". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  10. ^ "Hunt named Reds vice-captain". Courier-Mail. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  11. ^ "Canberra news, sport and weather". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  12. ^ "QLD Reds Announce Leadership Team for 2015". Green and Gold Rugby. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  13. ^ "Reds axing fuelling Rob Simmons's rugby fire". The Daily Telegraph. 30 September 2017.
  14. ^ "NSW arrival Rob Simmons confident of Waratahs turnaround in 2018". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 January 2018.
  15. ^ "Wallaby Simmons out to lift for Waratahs". SBS. 10 January 2018.
  16. ^ "100-cap Rob Simmons the latest high profile Wallaby to sign for London Irish". RugbyPass. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
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