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Alex Dombrandt

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Alex Dombrandt
Dombrandt representing Harlequins during the Gallagher Premiership
Full nameAlex Joseph Dombrandt
Date of birth (1997-04-29) 29 April 1997 (age 27)
Place of birthSurrey, England
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight118 kg (260 lb; 18 st 8 lb)
SchoolThe John Fisher School
UniversityCardiff Metropolitan University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number 8, Flanker
Current team Harlequins
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018– Harlequins 129 (325)
Correct as of 19 January 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017 Wales U20 5 (0)
2021– England 20 (5)
Correct as of 17 November 2024

Alex Joseph Dombrandt (born 29 April 1997) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a number eight for Premiership Rugby club Harlequins and the England national team.[1]

Early life

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Dombrandt began playing rugby at the age of six for Warlingham R.F.C and Old Caterhamians in Surrey, originally at fly-half before switching into the forwards pack.[2] He attended The John Fisher School as a pupil.[2]

He played no rugby for representative sides or a professional academy before joining Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2015.[3]

In the summer months when not playing rugby, Dombrandt can be found indulging in the preseason training tradition of professional egg catching on the beaches of Dorset.

Club career

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In February 2018 Harlequins announced Dombrandt's signature for the following season.[4]

Dombrandt's form for Harlequins led to calls from Stuart Barnes and others for him to be included in the England international squad.[5][6] On 2 June 2019 Dombrandt made his England debut, playing in a non-cap match against the Barbarians, in which he scored two tries.[7] In June 2019 he was one of four uncapped players named in England's preliminary World Cup training squad[8] but was not selected for the tournament.[9]

Dombrandt reduced his weight from 130kg (at university) to 120kg by the 2019-2020 season.[10]

He scored a try during Harlequins 43-36 defeat of Bristol Bears in the Premiership semi-final, a game in which Quins recovered from a 28 point deficit to win.[11] He started the following week in the Premiership final against Exeter Chiefs and scored another try as Harlequins won the game 40-38 in the highest scoring Premiership final ever.[12]

In April 2024, he started for Harlequins in their Champions Cup Round of 16 victory over Glasgow Warriors, winning 28-24 at The Stoop, the first time the club had ever won a knockout game in the competition.[13] The following week he scored a try against Bordeaux Begles, winning 42-41, to give them their second ever victory in the knockout stages of the competition and the first time they have achieved this away.[14]

Ahead of the 2024-25 season, he was named permanent captain of Harlequins taking over from Stephan Lewies.[15]

International career

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He played for Wales under 20s in all five of their games in the 2017 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, qualifying as a resident student at a Welsh university.[16] However he has no birth, family or residency qualifications to play for Wales at Test level.[16]

On 10 July 2021 Dombrandt made his senior England Test debut in a 70-14 victory against Canada at Twickenham.[9][17]

Career statistics

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List of international tries

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No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 26 February 2022 Twickenham Stadium, London, England  Wales 17–0 23–19 2022 Six Nations Championship

as of 26 February 2022[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Alex Dombrandt ESPN profile". ESPN. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b Thomas, Simon (28 February 2018). "The English youngster who played for Wales and has now signed a dream deal in the Aviva Premiership". Wales Online. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  3. ^ Thomas, Simon (22 February 2022). "Alex Dombrandt played for Wales against England the last time". WalesOnline. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Alex Dombrandt: Wales Under-20 lock to join Harlequins". BBC. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  5. ^ Smith, Steven (4 December 2018). "Stuart Barnes wants England to call up Wales U20 star". Ruck. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  6. ^ Collings, Simon (1 March 2019). "Alex Dombrandt backed for England call-up after fine debut season at Harlequins". The Evening Standard. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  7. ^ Cantillon, Michael (2 June 2019). "England 51-43 Barbarians: Inexperienced XV register shock win at Twickenham". Sky Sports. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  8. ^ Jones, Chris (20 June 2019). "Ruaridh McConnochie & Alex Dombrandt in England's World Cup training squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  9. ^ a b Purewal, Nick (9 July 2021). "Alex Dombrandt: There is no limit to where England new boy can go, Eddie Jones claims". The Independent. Archived from the original on 8 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  10. ^ Paul Gustard, BT Sport, 1/12/19
  11. ^ Harby, Chris (19 June 2021). "Premiership semi-final: Bristol Bears 36-43 Harlequins (AET) - Quins reach Twickenham after stunning fightback". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  12. ^ Pilnick, Brent (26 June 2021). "Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 38-40 Harlequins - Louis Lynagh's late double clinches title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Harlequins vs Glasgow Warriors". Harlequins. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Bordeaux-Beg 41 - 42 Harlequins - Match Report & Highlights". Sky. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Alex Dombrandt Named Men's Club Captain". Harlequins. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  16. ^ a b Doel, Jon; Thomas, Simon (1 December 2018). "The former Wales Under-20s star who's the talk of English rugby today but can't actually play for Wales". Wales Online. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  17. ^ "England 70-14 Canada". BBC Sport. 10 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Alex Dombrandt". 26 February 2022.
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