Seb Atkinson
Seb Atkinson (born 21 May 2002) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for Premiership Rugby club Gloucester.
| Born | Seb Atkinson 21 May 2002 London, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 99 kg (218 lb; 15 st 8 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Bromsgrove School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Seb Atkinson (born 21 May 2002) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for Premiership Rugby club Gloucester.
Club career
[edit]Atkinson is a graduate of the Luctonians club in Herefordshire. He joined the Senior Academy at Sixways in the summer of 2020 having captained Warriors to third place in the 2019-20 Premiership Rugby Under-18s Academy League.[1]
Atkinson joined Stourbridge on a dual registration in October 2021. He made his senior debut in the Premiership Rugby Cup win over Gloucester at Sixways Stadium in December 2021 and his Gallagher Premiership debut as a replacement against Sale Sharks in February 2022.[2][3]
Due to the club entering administration, all Warriors players had their contracts terminated on 5 October 2022.[4] On 17 October 2022, Atkinson signed for local rivals Gloucester ahead of the 2022–23 season, following his Worcester exit.[5]
Atkinson made his Cherry & White debut in a 38–31 victory against Bristol Bears in the Premiership Rugby Cup, scoring a brilliant solo try in the process.[6] With a number of notable performances in the Premiership Rugby Cup, Atkinson became a regular component of the Cherry & White midfield, with many appearances to his name across all competitions. At the end of the season, Atkinson was voted as young player of the season by fans.[7]
On 30 March 2023, Atkinson signed a new deal to stay at Kingsholm, thus promoted to the senior squad ahead of the 2023–24 season.[8] He scored a try in the 2023–24 Premiership Rugby Cup final as Gloucester defeated Leicester Tigers to win their first trophy for nine years.[9] At the end of that season Atkinson started in the 2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium which they lost against Sharks to finish runners up.[10]
International career
[edit]Atkinson was due to captain England Under-18s at the end of the 2019–20 season but their programme was cancelled owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][11] He was included in England squad for the 2021 Six Nations Under 20s Championship in Cardiff but was not used in any of their five matches in a Grand Slam-winning campaign. Atkinson was named in England Under-20s EPS squad for 2022 but remained uncapped at youth level.[12][13]
In May 2025 Atkinson was called up to a training camp for the senior England squad by coach Steve Borthwick.[14] The following month Atkinson played for an England XV side in a non–cap friendly against an France XV, which they lost 24–26 to the opposition at Twickenham Stadium.[15][16]
Atkinson was included in the squad for the 2025 England rugby union tour of Argentina and the United States.[17] On 5 July 2025 he made his Test debut starting in a 35–12 victory over Argentina.[18][19] A week later in their next match Atkinson scored his first try at international level as England completed a 2–0 series win.[20]
List of international tries
[edit]as of 12 July 2025[update].
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 July 2025 | Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan, Argentina |  Argentina
|
5–0 | 22–17 | 2025 summer tour | [20] |
Honours
[edit]- Gloucester
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Young Guns: Worcester Warriors centre Seb Atkinson". The Rugby Paper. 7 February 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "Worcester 27 - 21 Gloucester". Sky Sports. 29 December 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ Wood, Matthew (12 February 2022). "Match Centre: Sale Sharks 36-12 Worcester Warriors". Talking Rugby Union. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ Kitson, Robert (5 October 2022). "Worcester player and staff contracts terminated after high court ruling". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "Alex Hearle, Seb Atkinson and Finn Theobald-Thomas join Gloucester after Worcester Warriors exit". BBC Sport. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "Gloucester 38-31 Bristol". Sky Sports. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "Player of the season award winners unveiled". Gloucester Rugby. 26 April 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ "Seb Atkinson: Gloucester centre extends contract at Kingsholm". BBC Sport. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ a b Hurcom, Sophie (15 March 2024). "Premiership Rugby Cup final: Gloucester 23-13 Leicester: Gloucester clinch first trophy in nine years". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
- ^ a b Hurcom, Sophie (24 May 2024). "Sharks overpower Gloucester to win Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
- ^ "England Men U18s Squad For February Development Camp". England Rugby. 18 February 2020. Archived from the original on 26 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "England U20 Men's 2021 Elite Player Squad Announced". England Rugby. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "England Men's U20 2022 Elite Player Squad Announced". England Rugby. 10 January 2022. Archived from the original on 26 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ Henson, Mike (20 May 2025). "Fit-again Feyi-Waboso named in England training camp". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
- ^ "Premiership Rugby | England XV team to play France XV team at Allianz Stadium". premiershiprugby.com. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
- ^ Watkins, Alistair (21 June 2025). "England XV 24-26 France XV: Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is sent off as France snatch dramatic win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
- ^ "George Ford and Jamie George to co-captain 36-man England squad on summer tour of Argentina and USA". Sky Sports. 24 June 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
- ^ Henson, Mike (3 July 2025). "Ford to make 100th England appearance in Argentina opener". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
- ^ Bradshaw, Joe (5 July 2025). "Argentina 12-35 England: Ford inspires England to fine win in Argentina". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
- ^ a b Mann, Mantej (12 July 2025). "Van Poortvliet's late try seals England series win in Argentina". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 July 2025.