Tom Shanklin
Encyclopedia
Tomos George L. Shanklin (born 24 November 1979 in Harrow, London
) is a former Welsh
rugby union
player who played Outside Centre for Cardiff Blues
and Wales
. He is Wales' most-capped centre. He played club rugby for London Welsh and then Saracens
, before joining Cardiff Blues
in 2003.
The son of Jim Shanklin who won four caps for Wales
, Tom played for Wales at Under 19, Under 21 and Wales A levels and made his first international appearance for the senior side against Japan
in Tokyo
in the summer of 2001, scoring two tries. He made his debut in the Six Nations Championship
against France
in 2001, 32 years previously his father Jim had won his first international cap against the same opponents.
At first Shanklin was regarded as a "super sub" in the Welsh side, but later established himself in the starting lineup. He produced some notable performances in the 2004 Autumn internationals, scoring eight tries in the four games. This included four tries against Romania
and a spectacular try against New Zealand
. He was sometimes played as a wing, but started all the 2005 Six Nations
matches in his preferred position at centre.
He was selected for the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
, but suffered a knee injury early in the tour which meant that he had to be replaced. As a result he also missed the majority of the 2005–06 season.
On 21 April 2009, Shanklin was named as a member of the British and Irish Lions
for the 2009 tour to South Africa. But on the 7 May it was announced that he would miss the tour as he required reconstructive surgery on his shoulder which would keep him out for 16 weeks.
Shanklin won 70 caps for Wales (56 starts and 14 appearances as a substitute). He scored 20 tries, placing him 5th-equal (with Gerald Davies
and Gareth Edwards
) on the list of record try-scorers for Wales.
Following a fourth knee operation in February 2011, on 21 April Shanklin announced his immediate retirement from all forms of the game.
Harrow, London
Harrow is an area in the London Borough of Harrow, northwest London, United Kingdom. It is a suburban area and is situated 12.2 miles northwest of Charing Cross...
) is a former Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
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 played Outside Centre for Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club....
and 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...
. He is Wales' most-capped centre. He played club rugby for London Welsh and then Saracens
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
, before joining Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club....
in 2003.
The son of Jim Shanklin who won four caps for 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...
, Tom played for Wales at Under 19, Under 21 and Wales A levels and made his first international appearance for the senior side against Japan
Japan national rugby union team
The Japan national rugby union team represent Japan in international rugby union competitions. Japan is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia but has both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
in the summer of 2001, scoring two tries. He made his debut in the Six Nations Championship
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
against France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
in 2001, 32 years previously his father Jim had won his first international cap against the same opponents.
At first Shanklin was regarded as a "super sub" in the Welsh side, but later established himself in the starting lineup. He produced some notable performances in the 2004 Autumn internationals, scoring eight tries in the four games. This included four tries against Romania
Romania national rugby union team
The Romania national rugby union team , nicknamed The Oaks , is the representative side of Romania in rugby union. Long considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations, they have participated in all six Rugby World Cups, and currently compete in the first division of the...
and a spectacular try against New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. He was sometimes played as a wing, but started all the 2005 Six Nations
2005 Six Nations Championship
The 2005 RBS 6 Nations Championship was the sixth series of the Six Nations Championship to be held since the competition expanded in 2000 to include Italy...
matches in his preferred position at centre.
He was selected for the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
In 2005 the British and Irish Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand for the first time since 1993, playing 7 tour matches against first and second division clubs from the National Provincial Championship series, 1 tour match against the national New Zealand all Māori club, and 3 official test...
, but suffered a knee injury early in the tour which meant that he had to be replaced. As a result he also missed the majority of the 2005–06 season.
On 21 April 2009, Shanklin was named as a member of the British and Irish Lions
2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa
The 2009 British and Irish Lions Tour to South Africa was an international rugby union tour which took place in South Africa from May to July 2009....
for the 2009 tour to South Africa. But on the 7 May it was announced that he would miss the tour as he required reconstructive surgery on his shoulder which would keep him out for 16 weeks.
Shanklin won 70 caps for Wales (56 starts and 14 appearances as a substitute). He scored 20 tries, placing him 5th-equal (with Gerald Davies
Gerald Davies
Thomas Gerald Reames Davies CBE is one of the acknowledged greats of Welsh rugby, playing for the side between 1966 and 1978.-Biography:...
and Gareth Edwards
Gareth Edwards
Gareth Owen Edwards CBE is a former Welsh rugby union footballer who played scrum-half and has been described by the BBC as "arguably the greatest player ever to don a Welsh jersey"....
) on the list of record try-scorers for Wales.
Following a fourth knee operation in February 2011, on 21 April Shanklin announced his immediate retirement from all forms of the game.