Tom Palmer
England
player portrait
Full name Thomas Phillip Palmer
Born March 27, 1979, Haringey, London
Current age 44 years 358 days
Major teams Benetton Treviso, Bordeaux Begles, England A, Gloucester Rugby, Leeds Tykes, Stade Français, Wasps, England, England XV
Position Lock
Height 6 ft 7 in
Weight 260 lb

Test career
Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
All Tests 2001-2012 42 28 14 0 0 0 0 0 23 18 1 55.95
Five/Six Nations 2007-2012 14 9 5 0 0 0 0 0 10 4 0 71.42
IRB Rugby World Cup 2011-2011 5 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 80

Career statistics
Test debut United States of America v England at San Francisco, Jun 16, 2001 match details
Last Test England v Australia at Twickenham, Nov 17, 2012 match details
Test Statsguru Main menu | Career summary | Match list | Tournament list

English Premiership
Team Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
All matches 2001-2015 172 152 20 55 11 0 0 0 70 95 7 42.73
Leeds Tykes 2001-2006 86 80 6 30 6 0 0 0 31 52 3 37.79
Wasps 2006-2014 70 58 12 25 5 0 0 0 34 33 3 50.71
Gloucester Rugby 2014-2015 16 14 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 10 1 34.37
Profile

Tom Palmer took the road less travelled to England honours, beginning his career with a second division Leeds in 1997. Having been spotted by Leeds boss Phil Davies while playing for Leeds University, Palmer was drafted into the Tykes' Under-19 side during his first year at college.

During this time Palmer also represented Scotland Under-19 and Under-21, who he qualified for through residency in Edinburgh, before being drafted into the Leeds first team squad in 1998.

His debut for Leeds came in 1998 against Blackheath, but he firmly established his place in the side the following season, missing only four games throughout the campaign. Palmer was selected for England 'A' duty while still playing in National One, which Leeds finished top of in the 2000-01 season.

His strong work over the preceding season led to his inclusion on England's summer tour to the USA, and he became the first Leeds player to play for England when he replaced Steve Borthwick against the USA in San Francisco.

The following season was Palmer's first in the Premiership, although he was limited to 15 appearances after breaking his leg in an England 'A' game. Serious injury struck again in 2003, when, following a spell with the senior side, Palmer suffered a knee problem during the Chruchill Cup that ruled him out for six months.

He collected a Powergen Cup winner's medal in 2005 after Leeds' victory over Bath at Twickenham, but his side were relegated from the Premiership the following season, and Palmer chose this time to leave the club. After over 100 appearances for Leeds he joined London Wasps in the summer of 2006.

He won both the Heineken Cup and Guinness Premiership with Wasps, before announcing that he would be joining French Top 14 side Stade Francais for the 2009-10 season alongside fellow Wasps and England forward James Haskell.

Palmer continued to turn in eye-catching performances for the Parisian giants and in 2011 started every Six Nations match for England. He marked a great season in the red rose jersey by being named in Martin Johnson's 30-man squad for the World Cup and in early 2012 - while maintaining a place in a new-look England side - he confirmed his return to Wasps on a two-year contract.

Latest Articles
Tom Palmer the latest Gloucester summer signing (Mar 28, 2014) Palmer to miss Six Nations (Jan 22, 2013) England draft in Launchbury as injury cover (Nov 5, 2012) Palmer warns side over Maestri (Mar 6, 2012) Parling set for first Test start (Feb 22, 2012) Tom Palmer news and articles (55) »
Latest Photos
Apr 12, 2014
Mathew Tait is tackled by Tom Palmer and Guy Thompson
Mathew Tait is tackled by Tom Palmer and Guy Thompson
©  Getty Images
Feb 15, 2014
Tom Palmer has a run at London Irish's defence
Tom Palmer has a run at London Irish's defence
©  Getty Images
Jun 23, 2012
England's Tom Palmer claims the lineout
England's Tom Palmer claims the lineout
©  PA Photos
Feb 4, 2012
Tom Palmer loses a lineout against Jim Hamilton
Tom Palmer loses a lineout against Jim Hamilton
©  Getty Images
Tom Palmer rugby photos (34) »

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