Brett Wilkinson

For the American rower, see Brett Wilkinson (rower).
Brett Wilkinson
Full name Brett Wilkinson
Date of birth (1983-11-29) 29 November 1983
Place of birth Grahamstown, South Africa
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 117 kilograms (18.4 st)
School Kingswood College
University University of Cape Town
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Loosehead Prop
Amateur clubs
Years Club / team
Galwegians
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2006–2014 Connacht 183 (10)
correct as of 18 January 2014.
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2009-12 Wolfhounds 5 (5)
correct as of 28 January 2012.

Brett Wilkinson (born 29 November 1983) is a South African born rugby union coach and former player who is currently the head coach of Buccaneers. He played for Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro 12.[1] He played as a prop.

Career

Early career

Wilkinson attended Kingswood College, Grahamstown, playing for their 1st XV but came to prominence playing for the University of Cape Town and after a successful season in 2005 received a number of offers, but chose to move to Europe and play for Irish side Connacht.[2]

Connacht

Wilkinson first joined Connacht for the 2006–07 season, and made his debut on 1 September 2006, in an away victory over Scottish side Border Reivers in the 2006–07 Celtic League. He played the full 80 minutes as Connacht won on a scoreline of 29-15.[3] Wilkinson made his first European appearance for Connacht on 20 October 2006 against Harlequins in the 2006–07 European Challenge Cup coming on as a replacement. Wilkinson played in a total of 18 Celtic League matches in his first season, 16 of these coming as starts,[4] and also played in 5 Challenge Cup matches.[5]

In the following season, Wilkinson continued to play regularly for the side. With the number of teams reduced to ten for the 2007–08 Celtic League, Wilkinson featured in all 18 of Connacht's matches, with only one of these appearances coming as a replacement.[4] As well as his appearances in the Celtic League, Wilkinson started all six of Connacht's games in the Challenge Cup.[5]

Wilkinson continued to be a regular starter for Connacht over the following seasons. He played in 15 games in the 2008–09 Celtic League and played in six of the side's games as they reached the quarter-finals of the 2008–09 European Challenge Cup. In the 2009–10 season, Wilkinson played in 16 Celtic League games, and featured regularly for the province as they made the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup. Wilkinson played in the semi-final as Connacht were narrowly beaten in the Sporstground by a Toulon side featuring England international Jonny Wilkinson.[4][5]

In October 2010 Wilkinson earned his 100th cap for Connacht.[6] With the number of teams having been expanded to 12, he played in 20 games in the 2010–11 Celtic League under new coach Eric Elwood.[4] Wilkinson also started five games in the Challenge Cup that season.[5]

The following season saw Wilkinson make 18 appearances in the Pro12, the new name given to the league, starting in 15 of the matches.[4] That season also saw Connacht qualify for their first ever Heineken Cup, due to another Irish side, Leinster, having won the previous year's competition, which presented the IRFU with an extra berth. Wilkinson played his first ever match in the highest level of European rugby against Harlequins in Connacht's Pool 6 match, away at the Stoop. He went on to start every one of Connacht's pool matches, including their first ever Heineken Cup win, in the return match against Harlequins at the Sportsground.[5]

In the 2012–13 season Wilkinson played 18 games in the Pro12.[4] Connacht again qualified for the Heineken Cup, due to Leinster winning the competition for the second time running. Wilkinson started in only three of the province's six matches, but featured as a replacement in another two.[5]

In the 2013–14 season, Wilkinson started out the season playing regularly. Out of Connacht's first 12 matches in the Pro12, he started 10 and made a substitute appearance in another.[4] Wilkinson also started all six of Connacht's games in the 2013–14 Heineken Cup, which the team had qualified for due to Leinster's victory in the 2012–13 European Challenge Cup.[7] This included a famous victory over four time Heineken Cup winners Toulouse.[8] In Connacht's final match of the pool stages away to Saracens, Wilkinson was forced to leave the field and be replaced due to injury.

On 26 March 2014, it was announced that Wilkinson was retiring from rugby due to a neck ligament injury sustained against Saracens, having played for Connacht over 180 times.[9]

International

Although born in South Africa, Wilkinson qualified to play for Ireland through the 3-year residency rule. Wilkinson was called to train with the Ireland squad in 2009.[10] Wilkinson was called up to the senior Ireland squad for the tour of New Zealand in 2012.[11] He also made a number of appearances for Ireland's second tier side, now known as Ireland Wolfhounds.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Brett Wilkinson player details". Skysports.com. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  2. ↑ Player Profile Brett Wilkinson Archived September 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ "Border Reivers 15 - 29 Connacht Rugby". RaboDirectPRO12. 1 September 2006. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Connacht Squad Index: Brett Wilkinson". RaboDirectPRO12. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Player Archive: Brett Wilkinson 2006-13". ERC. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  6. ↑ "Wilkinson and Anderson sign for Connacht". RaboDirectPRO12. 7 March 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  7. ↑ "Player Archive: Brett Wilkinson 2013-14". ERC. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "Connacht diehards shock French aristocrats". Irish Examiner. 8 December 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  9. ↑ http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro12/connacht-s-brett-wilkinson-forced-by-injury-to-retire-1.1737917
  10. ↑ "Henry called into Ireland squad". BBC Sport. 27 October 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  11. ↑ "Ireland call up Ulster duo for New Zealand tour". BBC. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  12. ↑ http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/4036.php

External links


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