Bill Meakes

Bill Meakes (born 23 February 1991) is an Australian professional rugby union player currently playing for Chicago Hounds in Major League Rugby (MLR). He also has represented Australia in rugby sevens. His usual position is centre.

Bill Meakes
Birth nameWilliam Meakes
Date of birth (1991-02-23) 23 February 1991
Place of birthManly, New South Wales, Australia
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight100 kg (15 st 10 lb; 220 lb)
SchoolSt Joseph's College, Hunters Hill
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009–2012
2013
2013–2014		 Northern Suburbs
Randwick
Clifton		 ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–2016
2016–2017
2018
2020–2021
2021–2022
2023–		 Gloucester
Perth Spirit
Melbourne Rising
London Irish
LA Giltinis
Chicago Hounds		 45
11
4
7
23		 (25)
(16)
(10)
(0)
(15)
Correct as of 25 April 2023
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017
2018–2020		 Western Force
Rebels		 14
47		 (5)
(55)
Correct as of 24 October 2020
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011 Australia U20 4 (0)
Correct as of 24 February 2021
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2011–2012 Australia 1
Correct as of 24 February 2021

Meakes was previously contracted to the Western Force in Perth and Gloucester in the English Premiership. He also played for the LA Giltinis in the MLR.

Early life

Meakes was born in Manly on Sydney's Northern Beaches. He attended St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill [1] and during his final year there in 2008 was selected to represent New South Wales at the Australian Schools Rugby Championships.[2]

Rugby career

Meakes played his club rugby at Northern Suburbs [1] and then Randwick. In 2011 he played for the Australia U20 team that finished third at the IRB Junior World Championship, defeating France by 30–17 in the third place playoff. He was also capped for Australia sevens, playing in the 2011–12 IRB Sevens World Series.

In 2013, Meakes moved to England as he played for Clifton RFC, a local rugby union club based in Bristol. In early 2014, Meakes linked up with Gloucester Rugby having played for Clifton since his arrival in the UK as a non-contracted player.[3] He did enough to earn an academy contract for the 2014–15 season. On 15 January 2015, Meakes signed his first professional contract with Gloucester since his move to the English club became permanent.[4]

In 2016, Meakes was released from his contract with Gloucester to make his debut in Super Rugby with Perth-based Western Force from the 2017 season.[5]

Following a year with Western Force, Meakes signed with rivals Melbourne Rebels for both the 2018 and 2019 Super Rugby seasons.[6] He signed a one-year contract extension with the Rebels for the 2020 Super Rugby season.[7]

On 28 October 2020, Meakes returns to England to sign with Premiership side London Irish on a short-term deal until the end of January 2021 as injury cover.[8]

He joined Major League Rugby side LA Giltinis following his time at London Irish.[9] He competed for Australia at the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.[10][11]

Super Rugby statistics
As of 12 September 2020 [12]
SeasonTeam Games Start Sub Mins T C PG DG Pts YC RC
2017Force 1414010741000500
2018Rebels 1610695940002020
2019Rebels 16142110750002510
2020Rebels 6604801000510
2020 AURebels 9635641000500
Total 6150114184120006040

References
  1. "Rising Australian centre, Bill Meakes, living the dream playing for Gloucester". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. 17 May 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  2. "NSWSRU II XV 1972 – 2011" (PDF). NSW Schools Rugby Union. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  3. "Clifton's Bill Meakes to appear for Gloucester Rugby". Clifton Rugby. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  4. "Utility back Bill Meakes signs new deal with Gloucester Rugby". Sky Sports. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  5. "Gloucester utility back Bill Meakes join Western Force in Super Rugby". AU Rugby. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  6. "Bill Meakes Rugby Profile". Melbourne Rebels. 28 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  7. "Billy Meakes signs one-year contract extension with Rebels". Talking Rugby Union. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  8. "BILLY MEAKES JOINS LONDON IRISH ON SHORT-TERM DEAL". London Irish. 28 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  9. "LA Giltinis sign seasoned Super Rugby star Billy Meakes". LA Giltinis. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  10. Williamson, Nathan (5 September 2022). "Sevens sides confirmed for Rugby World Cup Sevens". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  11. "GAME BY GAME: Australia Women claim Sevens World Cup, Men finish fourth". www.rugby.com.au. 11 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  12. "Player Statistics". It's Rugby.


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