Rhys Patchell

Rhys Patchell (born 17 May 1993) is a Wales international rugby union player. A fly-half, he plays for the Highlanders having previously played for the Scarlets and Cardiff Blues. Patchell represented Wales on 22 occasions between 2013 and 2023.

Rhys Patchell
Birth nameRhys Patchell
Date of birth (1993-05-17) 17 May 1993
Place of birthLlandough, Penarth, Wales
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight92 kg (14 st 7 lb)
SchoolYsgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half
Fullback
Current team Highlanders
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2012 Cardiff, [CRICC] 16 (114)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2016
2016–2023
2023–		 Cardiff Blues
Scarlets
Highlanders		 83
86
 (614)
(409)
Correct as of 10 July 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013
2013–2023		 Wales U20
Wales		 1
22		 (0)
(82)
Correct as of 3 March 2023

Early life

Educated at Ysgol Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd and at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf. Patchell speaks Welsh,[1] and is an ambassador for the government-supported "Tafwyl" Welsh-language festival.[2]

Club career

Patchell graduated from the Blues Academy into the full regional side at an early age in 2012 and went on to score more than 600 points in a five-year stint at the Arms Park that saw him make 83 appearances. He scored 174 points in the 2015/16 season to top the Guinness Pro12 charts.[3]

Patchell joined Scarlets in 2016 and it proved to be a shrewd move as he ended his first season as the leading points scorer in the Guinness Pro12 once again with 145.[3] Patchell picked up a winners' medal, helping the west Walians beat Munster in the 2017 Pro12 Grand Final at the Aviva Stadium.[4]

Patchell suffered a series of injuries between 2019 and 2021, limiting his involvement with both the Scarlets and Wales.[5] He returned to full fitness in early 2022, featuring frequently for the Scarlets during the latter half of their season, and continuing his involvement into the 2022–23 United Rugby Championship.

On 21 April 2023, it was announced that Patchell would depart the Scarlets at the end of the season.[6]

Patchell signed for Super Rugby club the Highlanders on 12 July 2023.[7]

International career

In January 2013 Patchell was selected in the Wales U20 squad for the 2013 U20 Six Nations Championship.[8]

In May 2013 he was selected for the Wales national rugby union team for the summer 2013 tour to Japan. He made his international debut against Japan on 8 June 2013,[9] and played again in the reverse fixture the following week. Patchell had to wait three years before he won his next cap, and made his first start, after being called out to New Zealand as a replacement for the 2016 summer tour. He came on as a replacement in the midweek game against the Chiefs and started at full-back in the last two Tests with the All Blacks.

Patchell moved into his favoured No 10 shirt for the first two games of the 2018 Six Nations campaign, a home win over Scotland on his tournament debut and an away defeat to England, before dropping to the bench for the win over Italy. He was back at No 10 for the two wins over Argentina on the 2018 summer tour, scoring 30 points in the two games, and then notched his first international try in the home win over Tonga in November, 2018.[10]

Patchell was selected in the Welsh squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. He replaced Dan Biggar early in the pool stage match against Australia, kicking a conversion, three penalties, and a drop goal as Wales won 29–25.[11]

Patchell played in the rearranged Six Nations fixture against Scotland in October 2020.[12]

International tries
TryOpponentLocationVenueCompetitionDateResult
1 TongaCardiff, WalesMillennium Stadium2018 Autumn Internationals17 November 2018Win
2 IrelandCardiff, WalesMillennium Stadium2019 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches31 August 2019Loss

References
  1. BBC Cymru - Tîm y Cymry Cymraeg
  2. "Tafwyl 2014 expands with support from Welsh Stars". Retrieved 22 September 2015
  3. "A Statistical Review Of The Guinness Pro12 2016/17 Season". Pundit Arena. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  4. "Munster 22-46 Scarlets". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  5. Thomas, Simon (2 March 2022). "Rhys Patchell grateful to still have a job after 'catalogue' of injuries". WalesOnline. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  6. "Scarlets confirm 2022-23 player departures". Scarlets Rugby. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  7. Cully, Paul (11 July 2023). "Highlanders sign Moana Pasifika winger Timoci Tavatavanawai and Welsh No 10 Rhys Patchell". Stuff. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  8. Wales Under 20 Squad
  9. Wales debut
  10. "Rhys Patchell".
  11. "Australia 25-29 Wales: Rugby World Cup 2019 – as it happened". the Guardian. 29 September 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  12. "Six Nations Super Saturday 2020: Wales 10-14 Scotland". Sky Sports. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
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