Ralph Adams-Hale

Ralph Adams-Hale

Birth name	Ralph Ian Adams-Hale
Date of birth	(1997-03-31) 31 March 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth	Kimpton, England
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	118 kg (260 lb; 18 st 8 lb)
School	Roundwood Park School
University	King's College London
Rugby union career
Position(s) Loosehead Prop Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2016–2017 London Scottish 3 (0) 2018–2024 Saracens 27 (10) Correct as of 28 November 2024 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2016–2017 England U20 6 (0) Correct as of 18 June 2017

Ralph Adams-Hale (born 31 March 1997) is an English former rugby union player who played prop for Saracens and represented England at youth level.

Early life and education

Adams-Hale lived for much of his childhood in the village of Kimpton, Hertfordshire before moving to St Albans for the Saracens academy squad.

Adams-Hale attended Roundwood Park School and subsequently studied physics at King's College London, although "would have been at Cambridge had it been possible to juggle the logistics".[1]

Rugby career

Adams-Hale began playing rugby at a young age, playing junior rugby with Harpenden RFC.[2] He played back row when he was a teenager.[2] He continued up to senior level with Harpenden, and also became a key figure in his school First XV.

Adams-Hale was a member of the England under-20 squad that completed a grand slam during the 2017 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[3] Later that year he started for the side that finished runners up to New Zealand in the final of the 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[4]

In October 2018 Adams-Hale made his club debut for Saracens in a Premiership Rugby Cup match against Leicester Tigers and also featured in the final of that competition as they finished runners up to Northampton Saints.[5][6] At the end of that season he came off the bench in the Premiership final as Saracens defeated Exeter Chiefs to retain their title.[7]

After Saracens were relegated for salary cap breaches, Adams-Hale featured in the 2021 RFU Championship play-off victory over Ealing Trailfinders which saw Saracens gain promotion and an immediate return to the top flight.[8]

Due to persistent injuries and on medical advice Adams-Hale was forced to retire from professional rugby at the end of the 2023-2024 season.[9]

Honours

Saracens

• 1× Premiership Rugby: 2018–19[7]
• 1× RFU Championship: 2020–21[8]

England U20

• 1× Six Nations Under 20s Championship: 2017[3]
• 1× World Rugby U20 Championship runner up: 2017[4]

References

1. James, Steve (28 August 2016). "Behind the scenes at Saracens: Premiership champions and a European superclub". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
2. Metcalfe, Neil (19 April 2019). "Breakthrough just the start for Harpenden's latest Man in Black Ralph Adams-Hale". The Herts Advertiser. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
3. O'Sullivan, John (17 March 2017). "Ireland fight to the last as England claim Under-20 Grand Slam". Irish Times. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
4. Rowan, Kate (18 June 2017). "England 17 New Zealand 64: Baby Blacks seal Under 20 World Cup with emphatic victory". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
5. "Premiership Rugby Cup Final: Northampton beat Saracens with three first-half tries". BBC Sport. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
6. Hancock, Lewis (7 July 2020). "Adams-Hale extends for three years". Saracens. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
7. Pilnick, Brent (1 June 2019). "Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 34-37 Saracens". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
8. "Saracens 57-15 Ealing: Players 'showed faith in club', says Mark McCall as Sarries promoted back to Premiership". BBC Sport. 20 June 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
9. "Saracens pair to retire 'on medical grounds'". BBC Sport. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.