Sam Harrison (rugby union)

Samuel James Harrison (born 7 April 1990 in Leicester, England)^[2] is an English former rugby union footballer who played 178 games as a scrum-half for Leicester Tigers between 2008 and 2020.

Sam Harrison

Birth name	Samuel James Harrison
Date of birth	(1990-04-07) 7 April 1990 (age 35)
Place of birth	Leicester, England
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	80 kg (12 st 8 lb; 176 lb)[1]
School	John Cleveland College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half Youth career 1996–2004 Hinkley 2004–2010 Leicester Academy Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2008–2020 Leicester Tigers 178 (44) 2009–2010 Nottingham 12 (10) 2008–2020 Total 190 (54) Correct as of 5 January 2020 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2009 England U20 7 (0)

Club career

His first appearance for Leicester Tigers came as a replacement at home against Benetton Treviso in the Heineken Cup.^[3]

He was dual-registered with Nottingham for the 2009–10 season, and Harry Ellis's return from injury saw Harrison kept to a bench spot whilst the Leicester A team played in the Guinness A League.^[4]

Ellis's retirement in July 2010 resulted in Harrison's promotion to the full-time Leicester squad.^[5] Harrison played as a replacement during the 2013 Premiership final as Leicester defeated Northampton Saints.^[6]

Harrison is an ambassador for Dorothy Goodman School, a Special Educational Needs school in Hinckley, Leicestershire.

In 2016/17, his versatility earned him brief cover spells as fly half during periods of injury to both Freddie Burns and Owen Williams, even standing in as a goalkicker.^[7]

On 24 October 2019 Harrison announced his intention to retire aged only 29,^[8] to move to the Gold Coast, Australia and become a carpenter.^[9] His final appearance was on 4 January 2020 at Welford Road in a 31–18 win against Bristol Bears, Harrison had the last act of the match by clearing the ball to touch to end the game.^[10]

International career

Harrison has featured in the England U16, U18 and U20 squads.