Ollie Thorley
Ollie Thorley (born 11 September 1996) is an English rugby union player who plays for Gloucester Rugby in the Aviva Premiership. Debuting at 17, he is currently the youngest player to play for Gloucester in the professional era.
Thorley playing for Gloucester, 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Birth name | Oliver Andromeda Thorley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 11 September 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | London, United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 99 kg (15 st 8 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Cheltenham College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable relative(s) | Martin Britt (uncle) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ollie became the club's youngest first team try scorer when he crossed against Ospreys in March 2015 in the LV= Cup and he marked his debut in the Aviva Premiership with the game's only try against the Exeter Chiefs in April 2016.
In November 2017, he was awarded Try of the week for his week 8 try against Saracens.[1]
Following a spate of tries and Man of the Match presentations, Thorley was awarded the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Player of the Month for November 2018.
Ollie won the RPA Young Player of the Year Award for the 2018/2019 season and the Premiership Rugby Try of the Season Award.
International career
Thorley was selected for the England U18s for the summer tour in South Africa after winning the FIRA/AER European Championship in April 2016 beating Ireland 30-14 in Poland.[2]
He was also selected for the England U20s, winning every cap and part of winning the 2016 IRB Junior World Championship defeating Ireland 45-19 at City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester[3]
Thorley was selected for the Senior England squad for the first time when Eddie Jones announced his 2019 Six Nations squad after a string of impressive performances for his club, Gloucester.[4] He was called up again for the 2020 Six Nations Championship.[5]
Personal life
Thorley attended St Paul's Cathedral School until the age of seven, whereupon his family moved out of London and to the Cotswolds. He then attended Cheltenham College Junior School and Cheltenham College, respectively - the latter of which he was Deputy Head Boy. He captained the CC 1st XV in Upper Sixth, and the Athletics Team.
Thorley is the great nephew of Martin Britt, a former football player who played as a striker for Blackburn Rovers from 1961 to 1966. His aunt is the TV presenter and model Eku Edewor.
References
- "Citizen Try of the Week - (Round 8 Winner)". YouTube.com.
- "Ollie Thorley England U18s selection". Gloucester Rugby. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
- "Thorley's England U20s selection". Planet Rugby. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
- "Six Nations: England lock Maro Itoje ruled out of Scotland game". 11 March 2019.
- "Six Nations 2020: England call up eight uncapped players". BBC Sport. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.