Sammy Arnold
Sammy Arnold (born 8 April 1996) is an English rugby union player for English club Newcastle Falcons. He plays as a centre. Early lifeBorn in Redhill, Surrey, Arnold moved to Kent aged five and attended a state school until sixth form, when he earned a rugby scholarship at Cranleigh School. Harlequins had shown interest in Arnold joining their academy, but as a scrum-half rather than a centre. Club careerUlsterArnold made his debut against Dragons at Rodney Parade in March 2015 as an 18-year-old.[1] At the end of the season he won the Club's Academy Player of the Year award.[1] He made his first Champions Cup appearance against Oyonnax in January 2016,[1] but was forced off through injury after 23 minutes.[2] MunsterOn 4 February 2016, it was announced that Arnold would be joining Ulster's provincial rivals, Munster, at the beginning of the 2016–17 season.[3] Just weeks after joining Munster, Arnold damaged ligaments in his knee, which ruled him out of the opening period of the 2016–17 season.[4] On 26 November 2016, Arnold made his competitive debut for Munster, starting alongside Jaco Taute in the 2016–17 Pro12 fixture against Benetton at Thomond Park.[5] In January 2017, Arnold was ruled out for 8 weeks with a knee injury.[6] On 27 February 2017, Arnold resumed full training following his recovering from the knee injury.[7] On 31 March 2017, Arnold started for Munster A in their 2016–17 British and Irish Cup semi-final against Ealing Trailfinders, scoring a try in the 25–9 win against the English Championship side at CIT.[8] On 21 April 2017, Arnold started at 13 for Munster A in their 29–28 victory over English RFU Championship side Jersey Reds in the final of the 2016–17 British and Irish Cup, which was held in Irish Independent Park.[9] He scored his first tries for Munster on 3 November 2017, doing so in the 2017–18 Pro14 win against Welsh side Dragons.[10] Arnold made his European Rugby Champions Cup debut for Munster on 9 December 2017, starting in the Pool 4 fixture against Leicester Tigers in Thomond Park and earning the Man-of-the-Match award in the provinces' 33–10 win.[11] He was sent-off for a high tackle on Christian Lealiifano in Munster's Pro14 game against Ulster on 1 January 2018[12][13] and subsequently banned for 3 weeks.[14] He signed a new two-year contract with Munster in February 2018.[15] Arnold was named the Munster Rugby Young Player of the Year in April 2018.[16] ConnachtArnold joined Connacht on a two-year contract in July 2020,[17] and made his debut for the province against his old club Munster on 30 August 2020. BriveArnold moved to France to join Brive, where former Ireland and British & Irish Lions player Jeremy Davidson is head coach, on a three-year contract from the 2022–23 season.[18] Newcastle FalconsOn 19 July 2024, Arnold returns to the UK as he signs for English side Newcastle Falcons in the Premiership Rugby on a two-year deal from the 2024-25 season.[19] On 29 November 2024, despite a yellow card in the closing stages of the game he helped his side to their first win over Saracens since 2009.[20] International careerAfter achieving selection at under-18 level in May 2013,[21] Arnold received his first call up for the Ireland under-20 side in February 2015 for a 2015 Six Nations Under 20s Championship clash with France.[22] Arnold earned his first senior call-up in October 2018, being selected in Joe Schmidt's 42-man Ireland squad for the 2018 Autumn Internationals.[23] Arnold made his senior international debut for Ireland in their 2018 Autumn Test against the United States on 24 November 2018, coming on as a replacement for Will Addison at half-time in Ireland's 57–14 win.[24] HonoursMunster A
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