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Simon Cross (rugby union)
Encyclopedia
Simon Terriss Cross is a Scottish
rugby union
player. He currently plays in the back row as a flanker
for Edinburgh Rugby, who compete in the Magners League and Heineken Cup
. Cross was educated at Sedbergh School
.
where he captained the Under-21 side for three years.
During the 2006–07 season, Cross was loaned by Edinburgh to English National Division One club Waterloo
for a period of one month.
Cross was appointed Club Captain at the start of the 2007–08 season alongside Allister Hogg
as First Team Captain. Cross will retain the club captaincy for the 2008–09 season, this time with Mike Blair
as First Team Captain.
In April 2008, Cross signed a new two-year contract with Edinburgh.
As part of the draft of all players from the Scottish pro-teams (Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors
) to the Scottish Premier One rugby clubs, Cross was selected by Selkirk
and will be available to play for them during the 2008–09 season when not required by Edinburgh or any of the national teams.
Cross will retire from professional rugby at the end of the 2009/2010 season due to persistent knee problems.
/FIRA
Junior World Cup.
In 2002, Cross turned down the opportunity to play with the England Under-21 team and in 2003 joined the Scottish national training squad pending a ruling from the IRB
on his qualification to play for Scotland
.
Cross, who has always considered himself to be Scottish, was born in a British military hospital in Mauritius. His mother, Fiona, was also born in a British military hospital in Germany, and his father, Peter, is English. Cross's maternal grandfather and great-grandfather were aso born in military hospitals, both in India. His great-great-grandfather was born in Scotland.
On 21 January 2004, the IRB Regulations Committee ruled that he was free to play for Scotland having demonstrated a "close, credible and established national link with the country" and accepted that "certain rights flow from birth in a British military hospital".
The Committee's statement went on to say that "if the player, his mother and/or grandfather had not been on military service and therefore born in British military hospitals, the strong likelihood is that given the historical circumstances and family lineage at least one of them would have been born in Scotland.
"The committee also took the view that close links to Scotland were further demonstrated by the fact that the player, who was eligible to play for other unions, refrained from representing such other unions.
"In particular he turned down opportunities to play with the England national representative under 21s team in 2002."
Despite having been selected for national training squads by both the current Scotland coach, Frank Hadden
, and his predecessor, Matt Williams
, and even being named among the replacements, Cross has yet to receive a full international cap.
In 2007, Cross represented Scotland
during the final four rounds of the 2006-07 IRB Sevens World Series
in Hong Kong
, Adelaide
, London
and the inaugural Edinburgh Sevens
at Murrayfield
.
from the 2008–09 season. He has appointed his Edinburgh team mate, Andrew Easson as backs coach.
Cross previously coached Penicuik
for five years.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
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. He currently plays in the back row as a flanker
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
for Edinburgh Rugby, who compete in the Magners League and Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
. Cross was educated at Sedbergh School
Sedbergh School
Sedbergh School is a boarding school in Sedbergh, Cumbria, for boys and girls aged 13 to 18. Nestled in the Howgill Fells, it is known for sporting sides, such as its Rugby Union 1st XV.-Background:...
.
Club career
Cross joined Edinburgh Rugby in 2003 after starting his professional career with London WaspsLondon 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...
where he captained the Under-21 side for three years.
During the 2006–07 season, Cross was loaned by Edinburgh to English National Division One club Waterloo
Waterloo R.F.C.
Waterloo Football Club is an English Rugby Union team based at St Anthonys Road, Blundellsands, Merseyside. It celebrated its 125th season in 2007/08, having been founded in 1882 by brothers Sidney and Harry Hall and George Abercrombie. From 1882 until 1884 the club was known as Serpentine after...
for a period of one month.
Cross was appointed Club Captain at the start of the 2007–08 season alongside Allister Hogg
Allister Hogg
Allister Hogg is a Scottish Rugby Union player who plays rugby union at either flanker or number eight for Newcastle Falcons and formely for Scotland.-Career:...
as First Team Captain. Cross will retain the club captaincy for the 2008–09 season, this time with Mike Blair
Mike Blair
Michael Robert Leighton Blair is a Scottish rugby union footballer.He plays professional rugby union as scrum-half for Edinburgh Rugby and represents Scotland.He attended the Edinburgh Academy....
as First Team Captain.
In April 2008, Cross signed a new two-year contract with Edinburgh.
As part of the draft of all players from the Scottish pro-teams (Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors
Glasgow Warriors
The Glasgow Warriors, formerly Glasgow Rugby, are one of two professional rugby union teams in Scotland, Edinburgh being the other. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12 and their home ground is Firhill Stadium, also the home of Partick Thistle Football Club.-History:Glasgow Rugby were created to...
) to the Scottish Premier One rugby clubs, Cross was selected by Selkirk
Selkirk RFC
Selkirk Rugby Football Club are a rugby union side based in Selkirk in the Borders, Scotland.They play in their home games at Philiphaugh, and are now in Premiership Division Two and the Border League ....
and will be available to play for them during the 2008–09 season when not required by Edinburgh or any of the national teams.
Cross will retire from professional rugby at the end of the 2009/2010 season due to persistent knee problems.
International career
Cross represented Scotland Under-19 in the 2000 IRBInternational Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
/FIRA
FIRA - Association of European Rugby
The FIRA - Association Européenne de Rugby is the administrative body for rugby union in Europe. It was formed in 1999 to promote, develop, organise and administer the game of rugby in Europe under the authority of the International Rugby Board .The predecessor to FIRA–AER was the Fédération...
Junior World Cup.
In 2002, Cross turned down the opportunity to play with the England Under-21 team and in 2003 joined the Scottish national training squad pending a ruling from the IRB
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
on his qualification to play for Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
.
Cross, who has always considered himself to be Scottish, was born in a British military hospital in Mauritius. His mother, Fiona, was also born in a British military hospital in Germany, and his father, Peter, is English. Cross's maternal grandfather and great-grandfather were aso born in military hospitals, both in India. His great-great-grandfather was born in Scotland.
On 21 January 2004, the IRB Regulations Committee ruled that he was free to play for Scotland having demonstrated a "close, credible and established national link with the country" and accepted that "certain rights flow from birth in a British military hospital".
The Committee's statement went on to say that "if the player, his mother and/or grandfather had not been on military service and therefore born in British military hospitals, the strong likelihood is that given the historical circumstances and family lineage at least one of them would have been born in Scotland.
"The committee also took the view that close links to Scotland were further demonstrated by the fact that the player, who was eligible to play for other unions, refrained from representing such other unions.
"In particular he turned down opportunities to play with the England national representative under 21s team in 2002."
Despite having been selected for national training squads by both the current Scotland coach, Frank Hadden
Frank Hadden
Frank Hadden is a Scottish rugby union coach. He is a former head coach of Scotland and Edinburgh Rugby.Hadden replaced Matt Williams and was appointed on 15 September 2005. Hadden coached the Merchiston Castle School 1st XV after being appointed Head of Physical Education at the school in 1983...
, and his predecessor, Matt Williams
Matt Williams (rugby coach)
Matt Williams is an Australian rugby union coach from New South Wales.Williams, a teacher by profession, started in coaching at club level with Western Suburbs in Sydney, Australia in 1991...
, and even being named among the replacements, Cross has yet to receive a full international cap.
In 2007, Cross represented Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team (sevens)
The Scottish national rugby union sevens team compete in the IRB Sevens World Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.During 2006, the side were in danger of no longer competing in the Sevens World Series due to the financial problems faced by the Scottish Rugby Union...
during the final four rounds of the 2006-07 IRB Sevens World Series
2006-07 IRB Sevens World Series
2006–07 IRB Sevens World Series was the eighth of an annual series of rugby union sevens tournaments for full national sides run by the International Rugby Board since 1999-2000.New Zealand won the 2006-07 series by winning the final tournament in Edinburgh...
in Hong Kong
2007 Hong Kong Sevens
The 2007 Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens was a rugby union sevens tournament held on 30 March till 1 April 2007 in Hong Kong at the 40,000 capacity Hong Kong Stadium...
, Adelaide
2007 Adelaide Sevens
The Adelaide Sevens, also known as the Australia Sevens, is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens . The 2007 competition, which took place on 7 and 8 April, was played at the Adelaide Oval, South Australia...
, London
2007 London Sevens
The London Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens...
and the inaugural Edinburgh Sevens
2007 Edinburgh Sevens
The Edinburgh Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens . The 2007 competition took place on 2nd and 3rd of June, and was held at Murrayfield. It was the last leg of the 2006-07 IRB Sevens World Series.New Zealand won the tournament after...
at Murrayfield
Murrayfield Stadium
Murrayfield Stadium is a sports stadium located in the west end of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Its all-seater capacity was recently reduced from 67,800 to 67,130 to incorporate the largest permanent "big screen" in the country though it still remains the largest stadium in Scotland and one...
.
Coaching
In addition to his playing duties for Edinburgh, Cross will be the first team coach for Murrayfield WanderersMurrayfield Wanderers RFC
Murrayfield Wanderers Football Club are a rugby union side based in Edinburgh, Scotland.Formed in 1997 after the amalgamation of Murrayfield RFC and Edinburgh Wanderers FC, both clubs brought together a long history of rugby excellence which can trace its roots back to 1868 when the Edinburgh...
from the 2008–09 season. He has appointed his Edinburgh team mate, Andrew Easson as backs coach.
Cross previously coached Penicuik
Penicuik RFC
Penicuik Rugby Club is a rugby football club in the Scottish Rugby Union, playing their home games at Public Park, Penicuik, Midlothian, currently competing in the newly formed East League Division One....
for five years.