Tom Allen (rugby union)

Tom Allen
Full nameThomas G. Allen
Date of birth (2004-07-23) 23 July 2004 (age 20)
Place of birthNew Zealand
Height197 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Weight114 kg (251 lb; 17 st 13 lb)
SchoolHastings Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Hawke's Bay, Hurricanes
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2023– Hawke's Bay 1 (0)
2025– Hurricanes 0 (0)
Correct as of 10 November 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2023–2024 New Zealand U20 14 (5)
Correct as of 10 November 2024

Tom Allen (born 23 July 2004) is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a lock for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition[1] and the Hurricanes in Super Rugby.[2]

Early career

Allen attended Hastings Boys' High School and played 1st XV rugby for the school, alongside his identical twin brother, Reuben Allen. Since finishing his secondary school education, he has played premier club rugby for Havelock North Rugby Club.[3]

Allen represented Hawke's Bay at age grade level, including the Hawke's Bay U18 team in 2022 and the U19 team in 2023,[3][4] and was part of the Hawke's Bay Academy.[5]

In September 2022, Allen was selected in the Hurricanes U18 squad for a Super Rugby Development Camp.[6] Half a year later, he was named in the Hurricanes U20 team for the Super Rugby U20 competition in Taupō.[7] The Hurricanes U20s finished the 2023 tournament in second place.[8]

Senior career

At only 19 years old, Allen was named in the Hawke's Bay squad for the 2023 Bunnings NPC season.[9] He made his debut for the Magpies on 16 August 2023 against Waikato.[10] That was his only game for the province in two seasons. He was again named in the squad for 2024,[1] but didn't get any game time that season.

In March 2024, he was for the second year named in the Hurricanes U20 squad for the Super Rugby U20s tournament.[11] The team ended the 2024 tournament in third place.[12]

Prior to and during the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season, Allen trained with the Hurricanes while on a National Development Contract. On 27 June 2024, the Hurricanes announced that the franchise had signed Allen until the end of 2026 on a full contract.[2]

International career

On 7 October 2022, Allen was named in the New Zealand Schools squad for two matches – against the NZ Māori U18 team and Fiji Schools – to be played at a New Zealand Under 18 Quadrangular Tournament in Hamilton.[13]

The following year, Allen was for the first time named in the New Zealand Under 20 team. He played in both games of a two-test series against Australia[14][15] and competed at the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship.[16]

In 2024, Allen was selected in the New Zealand Under 20 team again,[17][18] winning the inaugural U20 Rugby Championship[19] and finishing the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship in third place.[20]

References

  1. ^ a b "Magpies 2024 NPC squad confirmed". Hawke's Bay Rugby Union. 29 July 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Hurricanes sign quartet for 2025". Hurricanes (Press release). 27 June 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Rugby: Four Hawke's Bay players head for Junior World Champs". Hawke's Bay Today. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  4. ^ @hbrucommunity (12 July 2023). "Under 19 Squad Announcement". Retrieved 10 November 2024 – via Instagram.
  5. ^ @hbrucommunity (7 February 2023). "We are pleased to announce the full squad for the Hawke's Bay Academy XV for 2023". Retrieved 10 November 2024 – via Instagram.
  6. ^ "Hurricanes U18s named for Super Rugby Development Camp". Hurricanes (Press release). 15 September 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Hurricanes named for Bunnings Warehouse Super Rugby U20s in Taupō". Hurricanes (Press release). 16 March 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Blues win 2023 Bunnings Warehouse Super Rugby U20s title". allblacks.com. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  9. ^ "Rugby: Hawke's Bay Magpies squad named for 2023 NPC". Hawke's Bay Today. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  10. ^ "NPC Rugby: Brad Weber gets home Magpies game before the big trip". Hawke's Bay Today. 14 August 2023. Archived from the original on 30 October 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Hurricanes name squad for Under-20's tournament in Taupo". Hurricanes (Press release). 13 March 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Crusaders crowned 2024 Super Rugby Under 20 Champions". New Zealand Rugby. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  13. ^ "Next generation of schoolboy talent selected in national teams". allblacks.com (Press release). 7 October 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  14. ^ "New Zealand Under 20 team named for first match against the Junior Wallabies". allblacks.com (Press release). 29 May 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  15. ^ "New Zealand Under 20s named for game two against Junior Wallabies". allblacks.com (Press release). 2 June 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  16. ^ "New Zealand Under 20 squad named for the World Rugby U20 Championship". allblacks.com (Press release). 6 June 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  17. ^ "Rising stars named in New Zealand Under 20 Rugby Championship squad". allblacks.com (Press release). 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  18. ^ "New Zealand Under 20 squad named for World Rugby U20 Championship". New Zealand Rugby (Press release). 31 May 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  19. ^ "NZ U20 make history and win inaugural TRC U20". SANZAAR. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  20. ^ "World Rugby U20 Championship: England end eight-year wait for title". World Rugby (Press release). 19 July 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.