Tarek Haffar

Tarek Haffar

Date of birth	(2001-09-13) 13 September 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth	Chelsea, London, England[1]
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	115 kg (18 st 2 lb; 254 lb)[2]
School	Gunnersbury Boys' School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop Current team Northampton Saints Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2022–2023 London Irish 10 (5) 2023– Northampton Saints 6 (0) Correct as of 3 March 2024 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2019 England U18 3 (0) 2021 England U20 3 (0) 2024– England A 1 (0) Correct as of 3 March 2024

Tarek Haffar (born 13 September 2001) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a loose-head prop for Premiership Rugby club Northampton Saints.

Early life

Haffar was born in West London to parents from Ghana and Lebanon.[3] He played much of his junior rugby as a back row forward before moving to loose-head prop in the front row.[4]

Haffar attended Gunnersbury Boys' School in Brentford, and played for club side Grasshoppers RFC. He joined the London Irish Academy set-up at the age of fourteen.[5]

Club career

Haffar made his debut for London Irish against Harlequins in September 2022 and went on to make ten appearances in total during the 2022-23 season.[6][7] He scored his first try in the Premiership against Sale Sharks in March 2023.[8] A week later he was a second-half substitute as they lost to Exeter Chiefs after extra time in the final of the Premiership Rugby Cup.[9]

In the summer of 2023 London Irish encountered financial issues and it was announced that Haffar had joined Northampton Saints.[7][10] He made his debut for Northampton in the European Champions Cup against Glasgow Warriors in December 2023.[11]

International career

In August 2019 Haffar represented England under-18.[3] He was a member of the England U20 squad which completed a junior grand slam during the 2021 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[12][13] In February 2024 Haffar played for the England A side against Portugal.[14]

References

1. "Tarek Haffar". Northamptonsaints. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
2. "Tarek Haffar". All.Rugby. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
3. Harvey, Neale (31 March 2020). "Young Guns: London Irish prop Tarek Haffar". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
4. Westerby, John (3 November 2023). "Prop idols: Meet the youngsters who can rebuild England's scrum". The Times. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
5. Vickers, Tom (14 June 2023). "Dowson finally gets his man as talented young prop Haffar signs for Saints". Northampton Chronicle. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
6. "Match report: Harlequins 26, London Irish 30". London Irish. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
7. Sansom, Tom (15 June 2023). ""England U20s Star" – Northampton Sign Another London Irish Player Following Exiles Collapse". Ruck. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
8. "Premiership: London Irish 36-18 Sale: Exiles stun Sharks to continue good form". BBC Sport. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
9. Pilnick, Brent (19 March 2023). "Premiership Rugby Cup: London Irish 20-24 Exeter Chiefs (AET)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
10. Vickers, Tom (14 June 2023). "Saints 'building up to something big', says new signing Haffar". Northampton Chronicle. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
11. Heagney, Liam (17 December 2023). "Where are they now? The last London Irish team before its collapse". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
12. "England U20 men announce team to fact Italy". England Rugby. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
13. "England Under-20s 27-17 Italy Under-20s: England win Grand Slam in Cardiff". BBC Sport. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
14. "England A vs Portugal: Charlie Ewels to captain England A's first match since 2016". BBC Sport. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2024.