Richie Gray (rugby union, born 1989)

Richard James Gray (born 24 August 1989) is a Scottish professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for United Rugby Championship club Glasgow Warriors and the Scotland national team.

For other people with the same name, see Richard Gray.

Richie Gray
Gray representing Toulouse
Full nameRichard James Gray
Date of birth (1989-08-24) 24 August 1989
Place of birthRutherglen, Scotland
Height2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
Weight126 kg (278 lb; 19 st 12 lb)
SchoolKelvinside Academy
Notable relative(s)Jonny Gray (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Glasgow Warriors
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–2012 Glasgow Warriors 55 (20)
2012–2013 Sale Sharks 16 (5)
2013–2016 Castres 65 (10)
2016–2020 Toulouse 66 (10)
2020– Glasgow Warriors 55 (5)
Correct as of 25 June 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–2009 Scotland U20 12 (0)
2010– Scotland 78 (15)
2013 British & Irish Lions 1 (0)
Correct as of 10 October 2023

Club career

Gray played for provincial sides Glasgow Hawks and West of Scotland. He began his professional career at Glasgow Warriors in 2008, and was named in the Pro12 Dream Team at the end of the 2010/11 season. It was announced in November 2011 that Gray would be leaving Glasgow Warriors at the end of the 2011–12 season, having agreed to sign for the Sale Sharks.[1] In May 2013 it was announced that he would leave Sharks and had signed a three-year deal with French team Castres Olympique.[2]

On 24 November 2015, Gray agreed a four-year deal with Top 14 rivals Toulouse from the 2016–17 season.[3]

It was announced on 16 January 2020 that Gray would be returning to his original Glaswegian club, Glasgow Warriors, on a two-year deal from the 2020–21 season.[4]

International career

A former Kelvinside Academy student, Gray has represented Scotland at every age group from under-17 through to the senior sides, winning his first cap as an international as a substitute in the 2010 Six Nations Championship match against France.[5] His first international start came against New Zealand during the 2010 Autumn test series.[6] He scored his first international try in a Six Nations game against Ireland in March 2012, where he smashed through Tommy Bowe and dummied a great pass against Rob Kearney. Gray's 2013 Six Nations got off to a good start with Scotland beating Italy and Ireland, but during the match against Wales at Murrayfield, Edinburgh, he was injured and taken off the field. It was later revealed that he pulled a hamstring and was taken off the pitch as a precaution.[7]

Gray was selected for the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia, being the tallest on the tour. He played against Combined Country, Brumbies, Reds and Rebels, and went on to play a part in the final test against Australia, being part of a winning Lions series team.[8]

In 2023 Gray was selected in Scotland's 33 player squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.[9]

Career statistics

International analysis by opposition
Opposition Played Win Loss Draw Tries Points Win %
Argentina211015.500
Australia[lower-alpha 1]422000.500
Canada1100001.000
England826000.250
Fiji2200001.000
France1129000.182
Georgia2200001.000
Ireland9450210.444
Italy871000.875
Japan4400001.000
New Zealand404000.000
Romania1100001.000
Samoa3300001.000
South Africa413000.250
Tonga321000.667
United States2200001.000
Wales927000.222
Career 7838400315.487

as of 24 September 2023

  1. Includes of one British & Irish Lions test appearance in the 2013 tour to Australia.

References
  1. "Scotland second-row Richie Gray to join Sale Sharks". BBC Sport. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  2. "Site officiel CASTRES OLYMPIQUE". Castres-olympique.com. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  3. Lewis, Clive (24 November 2015). "Richie Gray: Scotland lock agrees deal with Toulouse". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  4. "Richie Gray to return to Glasgow Warriors".
  5. "The end of the private school rugger boy? How the win over Argentina showed the changing face of Scottish rugby". Daily Record. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  6. Rees, Paul (11 February 2011). "Six Nations 2011: Scotland's Richie Gray used Guscott flak to drive him on". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  7. "BBC Sport – Scotland's Richie Gray out for two months with hamstring injury". BBC. 11 March 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  8. "Lions 2013: Scotland lock Richie Gray aims to reign again as he returns to scene of the sublime with tourists". The Telegraph. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  9. "Scotland squad named for Rugby World Cup 2023". Scottish Rugby Union. 16 August 2023.
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