Will Wand (born 31 December 2001) is an English professional rugby union player for Leicester Tigers in Premiership Rugby. His usual position is centre. He previously played for Coventry and Cambridge.[1][2]
| Birth name | William George Wand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 31 December 2001 (age 22) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Spalding, Lincolnshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 94 kg (207 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Spalding Grammar School Brooksby Melton College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early life
editWand joined Spalding RFC at the age of 4 and progressed through the age ranks. He also attended Spalding Grammar School before leaving for Brooksby Melton College to continue playing in the ACE league.[3][4][5]
Career
editCambridge
editWand made his debut for Cambridge in September 2021, after signing for the club a month prior, in a National League 1 match against Rams RFC at 19 years old.[6]
On 11 December 2021, Wand earned his first start of the season in his favoured position of outside centre and was named man of the match after scoring two tries against league leaders Rosslyn Park and received National 1 player of the week shortly after.[7][8][9]
He finished the 2021-22 season with 20 appearances and 7 tries.[10]
Coventry
editAfter an impressive debut senior season in National League 1, Wand earned a move to Championship club Coventry ahead of the 2022-23 season.[11][12]
On 9 September 2022, Wand made his Championship debut for Coventry at home against Bedford Blues.[13]
He finished the 2022-23 season with 19 appearances and 3 tries.[14]
It was announced that Wand had re-signed with Coventry ahead of the 2023-24 season.[15][16]
On 8 September 2023, Wand was named man of the match in Coventry's first game of the season after scoring against Saracens in the newly formed Premiership Rugby Cup competition. Coventry won the game 28-14.[17][18]
Wand won the Championship’s Player of the Month award for September 2023 after outstanding performances in the Premiership Rugby Cup. He scored 2 tries in 4 appearances.[19]
On 23 March 2024, Wand equalled a Coventry club record against Hartpury after scoring 4 tries in a league match.[20][21][22]
Wand claimed Coventry’s 2023/24 Players’ Player award after he finished the season with 23 appearances, 22 of which came as part of the starting line-up, and scored 14 tries altogether.[23]
Wand was named in the 2023/24 Championship ‘Team of the Season’.[24]
Leicester Tigers
editOn 21 June 2024, Leicester Tigers announced the signing of Wand for the 2024–25 season.[24][25][26]
Wand made his Premiership debut on 5 October 2024 at Kingston Park against Newcastle Falcons and scored an intercept try with his first touch of the ball.[27]
Personal life
editWand has a younger brother, Tom, who played in the Leicester Tigers academy as a loosehead prop. As of the beginning of the 2023-24 season, he signed for National 2 South team Bury St Edmunds.[4][28]
Career statistics
edit| Club | Season | Competition | Appearances | Tries | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | 2021-22 | National League 1 | 20[10] | 7[10] | 35 |
| Coventry | 2022-23 | Championship | 14[14] | 2[14] | 10 |
| Championship Cup | 5[14] | 1[14] | 5 | ||
| 2023-24 | Premiership Rugby Cup | 4[14] | 2[14] | 10 | |
| Championship | 19[14] | 12[14] | 60 | ||
| Leicester | 2024-25 | Premiership | 4[14] | 1[14] | 5 |
| Premiership Rugby Cup | 2[14] | 2[14] | 10 |
References
edit- ^ "Leicester Tigers sign centre Will Wand from Championship side Coventry". BBC Sport. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ "Leicester Tigers Player Profile". Leicester Tigers.
- ^ Bedford, James. "Will Wand secures move to Championship side Coventry Rugby Club". Spalding Today.
- ^ a b Bedford, James (10 January 2022). "Will and Tom Wand embark on promising careers after starting out at Spalding Rugby Club". Spalding Today. p. 1.
- ^ "Brooksby Melton College into top division". 20 October 2019. p. 1.
- ^ "Thrills and spills return as Cambridge are beaten by Rams in National League One". Cambridge Independent. 4 September 2021. p. 1.
- ^ Taylor, Mark (17 December 2021). "Will Wand chuffed with Cambridge's display to beat National League One leaders Rosslyn Park". Cambridge Independent. p. 1.
- ^ Taylor, Mark (11 December 2021). "Will Wand applies magic touch as Cambridge defeat leaders Rosslyn Park". Cambridge Independent. p. 1.
- ^ "Round 14: Players of the week". National League Rugby. 17 December 2021.
- ^ a b c "Will Wand | Statistics". Cambridge RFC.
- ^ "Will Wand Puts Pen to Paper!". Coventry Rugby.
- ^ "Will Wand and Harry Johnston leave Cambridge to make step up". Cambridge Independent. 24 June 2022.
- ^ "Coventry v Bedford Blues - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 9 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Will WAND - Player statistics - Itsrugby". Itsrugby.
- ^ "Wand's magic is here to stay!". Coventry Rugby.
- ^ "Will Wand re-signs for Coventry Rugby Club". Spalding Today.
- ^ "Second-tier Coventry beat Saracens 28-14 in opening round". BBC Sport. 9 September 2023.
- ^ "Coventry Rugby v Saracens -The Premiership Rugby Cup". 365 Sporting Days.
- ^ Sutcliffe, Aaron (25 October 2023). "Wand shows magic touch to be crowned Championship Player of the Month". Coventry Observer.
- ^ Jarmyn, Luke (24 March 2024). "Record for Wand as Coventry move on up". TheRugbyPaper.
- ^ "Wand magic sets Coventry Rugby on way to emphatic win at Hartpury". Coventry Observer. 25 March 2024.
- ^ Smith, Paul (26 March 2024). "Magic Wand equals longstanding club record". Coventry Rugby.
- ^ "Wand, Ball and Pellegrini take top prizes at Coventry Rugby's end of season awards night". Coventry Observer. 20 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Tigers sign Coventry Player of the Year Will Wand". Leicester Tigers. 21 June 2024.
- ^ Austin, Ben (27 June 2024). "Coventry player-of-the-season Will Wand from Spalding delight at joining boyhood club Leicester Tigers". LincsOnline.
- ^ "A magic move for Wand to Leicester". Spalding & South Holland Voice. 26 June 2024.
- ^ "Tigers overpower Newcastle in seven-try romp". BBC Sport. 5 October 2024.
- ^ Liam, Apicella (28 July 2023). "Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club bolster ranks ahead of new season with arrival of 14 players". Suffolk News.