OurAmbassadors

Tom Croft

International Record: England: 31 Caps, 2 tries, Lions: 2009 to South Africa

Club: Leicester Tigers

Tom’s rugby baptism was at the age of 11 when he joined Newbury and he remained with club, then in National One, for five years before switching to the Leicester Tigers Academy.

Athleticism is the name of Tom Croft’s game and his status as a record breaker two summers ago was bolted on to his 13 England caps out of a possible 14 dating back to his debut against France in February 2008.

After being omitted from the British & Irish Lions’ squad in South Africa, he was not only called on as a pre-tour replacement for the suspended Alan Quinlan but also became the first forward in Lions’ history to score two tries against the Springboks in the initial Test at Durban.

Tom’s maiden try for England was in his twenty first match, against Samoa in November 2010. The following week, he fractured his right shoulder blade against South Africa. Surgery was not required but he returned to Leicester’s starting line up against Sale Sharks at the end of February. The following month he scored his second Test try on his return to the squad against Scotland at Twickenham.

He became a member of the England Sevens’ squad in 2006-07 and his speed brought the try that gave England Saxons a 17-13 triumph over New Zealand Maori in the 2007 Churchill Cup final at Twickenham. A medial ligament injury to his left knee ruled him out of the 2010 RBS 6 Nations Championship and prompted his absence for seven weeks.