Andy Gomarsall
Encyclopedia
Andrew Charles Thomas Gomarsall MBE
(born 24 July 1974 in Durham
) is a rugby union
player who plays at scrum-half for Leeds Carnegie and England
.
He previously played for Gloucester Rugby
, Bedford
and Wasps
. Until May 2006 he was contracted to Worcester Warriors for three seasons from 2005, but was released after one year of a three year contract — an action which is still subject to potential legal action by Gomarsall. He was released by Harlequins F.C in 2009 and joined Leeds Carnegie for the 2009–2010 season to continue Guinness Premiership rugby.
debut in 1996 against Italy
. In 1997 he played in three Five Nations games and came on twice as a replacement on tour in Argentina.
On the club scene, he was a member of London Wasps
’ 1999 Powergen Cup winning side, then transferred to Bedford
, where he was captain, before being persuaded to join Gloucester Rugby
. He was a Gloucester Rugby favourite, and took part in his second Powergen Cup triumph in 2003.
In 2002 Gomarsall re-ignited his England
rugby career after a period of 27 months in the international wilderness, when he played in the 26–18 win over Argentina
in Buenos Aires
in June. He sealed his place as one of the three scrum halves for the World Cup with a strong performance in England
's 43–9 defeat of Wales
at the Millennium Stadium
, during the World Cup warm up matches. He scored two tries in the 111–13 win over Uruguay
in the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Brisbane
.
Emerging enhanced from his World Cup performances, Gomarsall was selected as England
vice captain for the non-cap game against the New Zealand Barbarians
in December 2003. Gomarsall started all three of England’s 2004 Autumn internationals at Twickenham
and was vice captain in the England XV against the Barbarians
in May as well as the Churchill Cup
tour.
However, injury led to his replacement at both Gloucester Rugby and England, and so to prolong his career he signed a three year deal with Worcester Warriors in June 2005. However, his injury worries returned to plague him, and he was released along with nine other players by Worcester in May 2006, two months short of the end of the season.
On 25 September 2006 Gomarsall signed a one year "pay-as-you-play" deal with Harlequins
: ""It was shocking what happened to me and I wouldn't want that to happen to anyone else. I love rugby so much and have really missed it. I'm very grateful to Quins for giving me this opportunity.".
Gomarsall performed well for Harlequins and was selected for the England squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. It was his kick down the touchline that enabled Josh Lewsey
to score 5 points — the eventual winning margin for England that sent them into the final against South Africa on 20 October 2007.
In 2008, Gomarsall started the first two Six Nations games before being dropped for the third against France.
He was a co-commentator for ITV
's coverage of the 2011 Rugby World Cup
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 24 July 1974 in Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
) is a rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player who plays at scrum-half for Leeds Carnegie and England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
.
He previously played for Gloucester Rugby
Gloucester RFC
Gloucester Rugby are a professional English rugby union club situated in the west country city of Gloucester. The club plays in the domestic Aviva Premiership...
, Bedford
Bedford Blues
Bedford Blues is a rugby union club in the town of Bedford, England, currently playing in The RFU Championship. Bedford is one of the largest towns in England without a league football club, and one of the few towns in England where the rugby club is better supported than the football team. The...
and Wasps
London Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
. Until May 2006 he was contracted to Worcester Warriors for three seasons from 2005, but was released after one year of a three year contract — an action which is still subject to potential legal action by Gomarsall. He was released by Harlequins F.C in 2009 and joined Leeds Carnegie for the 2009–2010 season to continue Guinness Premiership rugby.
Biography
Gomarsall sprang to prominence when he led the 1992 England Schools U18 team to their first Grand Slam in 11 years. The following season, he joined London Wasps and made his full EnglandEngland national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
debut in 1996 against Italy
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
. In 1997 he played in three Five Nations games and came on twice as a replacement on tour in Argentina.
On the club scene, he was a member of London Wasps
London Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
’ 1999 Powergen Cup winning side, then transferred to Bedford
Bedford Blues
Bedford Blues is a rugby union club in the town of Bedford, England, currently playing in The RFU Championship. Bedford is one of the largest towns in England without a league football club, and one of the few towns in England where the rugby club is better supported than the football team. The...
, where he was captain, before being persuaded to join Gloucester Rugby
Gloucester RFC
Gloucester Rugby are a professional English rugby union club situated in the west country city of Gloucester. The club plays in the domestic Aviva Premiership...
. He was a Gloucester Rugby favourite, and took part in his second Powergen Cup triumph in 2003.
In 2002 Gomarsall re-ignited his England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
rugby career after a period of 27 months in the international wilderness, when he played in the 26–18 win over Argentina
Argentina national rugby union team
The Argentina national rugby team, nicknamed Los Pumas, represents Argentina in international rugby union matches. The team, which plays in sky blue and white jerseys, is organised by the Argentine Rugby Union .Argentina played its first international rugby match in 1910 against a touring British...
in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
in June. He sealed his place as one of the three scrum halves for the World Cup with a strong performance in England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
's 43–9 defeat of Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
, during the World Cup warm up matches. He scored two tries in the 111–13 win over Uruguay
Unión de Rugby del Uruguay
The Uruguayan Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Uruguay.-Foundation and affiliation:It was founded in 1951 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1989.They have been represented in the 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cups....
in the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
.
Emerging enhanced from his World Cup performances, Gomarsall was selected as England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
vice captain for the non-cap game against the New Zealand Barbarians
New Zealand Barbarians
The New Zealand Barbarians, nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", are an invitational rugby union team which have been a major part of New Zealand rugby since they were founded in 1937. They are based on the concept of Barbarian F.C...
in December 2003. Gomarsall started all three of England’s 2004 Autumn internationals at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
and was vice captain in the England XV against the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
in May as well as the Churchill Cup
Churchill Cup
The Churchill Cup was an annual rugby union tournament, held in June, contested by representative men's teams from Canada, England, the United States, and other invited teams from a wide array of countries....
tour.
However, injury led to his replacement at both Gloucester Rugby and England, and so to prolong his career he signed a three year deal with Worcester Warriors in June 2005. However, his injury worries returned to plague him, and he was released along with nine other players by Worcester in May 2006, two months short of the end of the season.
On 25 September 2006 Gomarsall signed a one year "pay-as-you-play" deal with Harlequins
Harlequin F.C.
The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
: ""It was shocking what happened to me and I wouldn't want that to happen to anyone else. I love rugby so much and have really missed it. I'm very grateful to Quins for giving me this opportunity.".
Gomarsall performed well for Harlequins and was selected for the England squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. It was his kick down the touchline that enabled Josh Lewsey
Josh Lewsey
Owen Joshua Lewsey MBE is a former English rugby union footballer who played fullback, wing or centre for Wasps.-Career:...
to score 5 points — the eventual winning margin for England that sent them into the final against South Africa on 20 October 2007.
In 2008, Gomarsall started the first two Six Nations games before being dropped for the third against France.
He was a co-commentator for ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's coverage of the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
.