Sam Skinner (rugby union)

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Sam Skinner
Birth nameSamuel George Skinner
Date of birth (1995-01-31) 31 January 1995 (age 26)
Place of birthExeter, England
Height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight113 kg (249 lb; 17 st 11 lb)
SchoolTorquay Boys' Grammar School
UniversityUniversity of Exeter
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock / Back Row
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–14 Taunton Titans 24 (25)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014– Exeter Chiefs 73 (40)
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
- Scottish Exiles ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015
2018–		 England U20
Scotland		 9
10		 (10)
(0)
Correct as of 11 Mar 2020

Sam Skinner (born 31 January 1995) is a Scotland international rugby union player for the English Premiership Rugby side Exeter Chiefs. He can play as either a second row or back row forward.

Early life and education[]

Skinner's father comes from Ayr.

Skinner studied at the University of Exeter, achieving a first in business and economics,[1] and captaining the University side to the 2016 BUCS Championship.[2][3]

Rugby playing career[]

Club level[]

After a late growth spurt, Skinner started his career with Taunton Titans. He played ten matches in National League Two South during the 2014-15 season.[4]

He was then offered an academy deal by Exeter Chiefs, which he juggled with studying for his degree.[1] This was later upgraded to a three year pro deal. “I trained and played for Exeter Chiefs alongside the university team [captaining Exeter to the BUCS Championship in 2016] and studied full-time,” explained Skinner. “They [the Chiefs] were brilliant. If I needed a week off for exams they were excellent at giving me that time. I was a late developer, I signed for Exeter at 90kg so for a year they allowed me to develop, to put on another 5-10kg and get my size up to Premiership and international level.”

On 14 November 2014, Skinner made his first-team debut in the LV Cup against Gloucester Rugby before making his Premiership debut against Northampton Saints.[1] He scored his first top try for the Chiefs in a 36-14 home win over Newcastle Falcons in February 2017 before starting his first game against Wasps RFC in September 2017.[5] His debut was called the ‘performance of the weekend’ in The Daily Telegraph.[6] In May 2018, Skinner was a second-half replacement for Mitch Lees as Exeter lost to Saracens in the Premiership Grand Final at Twickenham Stadium.[7] He was described as one of Exeter's ‘standout players this season’.[citation needed]

International level[]

While with Taunton he was picked up by the Scottish Exiles programme.[8]

In June 2015, Skinner scored a try for the England Under-20 team against Wales in the pool stage of the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[9] Skinner came off the bench for the last five minutes in the final as England finished runners up to New Zealand.[10]

Qualifying through this father, in October 2018 Skinner was called up to the senior Scotland squad for the Autumn Internationals.[11] On 10 November 2018 he was given his Scotland international debut, starting at lock against Fiji at Murrayfield Stadium. Skinner received the Man of the Match award; making 7 tackles and 44 metres in the game.[12][13]

A hamstring injury prevented Skinner contending for a world cup place.[14]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Exeter Chiefs Player List". exeterchiefs.co.uk. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  2. ^ David, Barnes (10 November 2018). "Sam Skinner: 'I've grown up supporting Scotland and England, which is very rare I suppose!'". The Offside Line. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Exeter Chiefs' homegrown stars aiming to topple big-spending Montpellier". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  4. ^ "Sam Skinner: 'I've grown up supporting Scotland and England". 10 November 2018.
  5. ^ "Sam Skinner on his 'surreal' first Premiership start for Exeter Chiefs". Devon Live. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  6. ^ "Sam Skinner | Aviva Premiership team of the weekend: Who shone in round four? - Rugby Union". The Telegraph. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Chiefs 10 Saracens 27". exeterchiefs.co.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  8. ^ "Scotland (Sam Skinner) - Scottish Rugby Union". www.scottishrugby.org.
  9. ^ "2015 World U20 Championship: Wales U20 16-30 England U20". BBC Sport. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  10. ^ "Final heartache for young Chiefs". exeterchiefs.co.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  11. ^ "Scotland: Blade Thomson, Sam Skinner and Sam Johnson in Autumn Tests squad". BBC Sport. 17 October 2018. Archived from the original on 17 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  12. ^ "Sam Skinner: 'I've grown up supporting Scotland and England". 10 November 2018.
  13. ^ "Scottish Rugby on Twitter".
  14. ^ "'It was just pure, sheer devastation' - How Sam Skinner dealt with the worst news of his career".
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