Ben_Betts_(rugby_union)

Ben Betts (rugby union)

Ben Betts (rugby union)

Irish rugby union player

Ben Betts (born 28 August 1996) is an Irish rugby union player for Nottingham in the RFU Championship, the second division of English rugby union. During his rugby career, Betts, a prop, has also played for English clubs Leicester Tigers, Loughborough Students, Ealing Trailfinders, and Doncaster Knights, as well as spending time on loan in Australia with Sydney University. Internationally, Betts represented his native Ireland at under-20 level.

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Early life

Born in Limerick, Betts went to school at Tarbert Comprehensive school in County Kerry. He first began playing rugby for Estuary RFC in Shanagolden, County Limerick but, after a year with the club, he then moved to Young Munster. He represented Munster at youth, under-19 and under-20 level, whilst also representing Ireland at under-18 clubs, under-19 and under-20 level.[1][2]

Career

Betts was named in the Ireland squad for the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship[3] but, despite featuring strongly in Ireland's run to the final, he was not offered a professional contract by the IRFU or Munster. Instead, Betts moved across the Irish sea to Leicester Tigers.[4]

Betts made his Leicester debut on 28 January 2017, coming off the bench in the 2016–17 Anglo-Welsh Cup against Northampton Saints at Welford Road.[5] He spent the season on a dual-registration deal with Loughborough Students in National League 1, before spending a summer loan spell with Sydney University in Australia.[6]

In April 2018, Ealing Trailfinders, who compete in the RFU Championship, announced that Betts would be joining them from the 2018–19 season.[7] Betts joined another English side, Nottingham, on loan for the 2019–20 season,[8] before leaving Ealing on a permanent basis to join fellow Championship side Doncaster Knights ahead of the 2020–21 season.[9] However, Betts was released from his contract by Doncaster in July 2020 after he decided to retire from playing rugby to focus on interests outside of rugby.[10] Despite this Betts re-joined Nottingham in March 2021 as the club assembled a squad for the COVID-19-delayed 2020–21 RFU Championship.[11]

References

  1. [1]
    "The future is bright: Ben Betts (First year sub-academy)". Irish Independent. 11 September 2015.
  2. [2]
    "Ben Betts Leicester Tigers Development Squad Profile". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  3. [3]
    "Ireland Squad Named For World Rugby U-20 Championship". 23 May 2016.
  4. [4]
    "Munster prop moves to Leicester Tigers". Sports News Ireland. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  5. [5]
    "Murphy delighted by pride and passion". Leicester Tigers. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  6. [6]
    "Ex-Ireland U20s prop Betts playing in Australia but will return to Leicester". The 42. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  7. [7]
    "Ben Betts to join Ealing Trailfinders from Leicester Tigers". Ealing Trailfinders. 5 April 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  8. [8]
    "Ben Betts to spend 2019/20 season on loan at Nottingham". Ealing Trailfinders. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  9. [9]
    "Former Tigers tight head Ben Betts signs". Doncaster Knights. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  10. [10]
    "Ben Betts released from Knights contract". Doncaster Knights. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  11. [11]
    "Three more sign". Nottingham R.F.C. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
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