| Full name | Andrew Powell | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 23 August 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Brecon, Wales | ||
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||
| Weight | 115 kg (18 st 1 lb) [1] | ||
| School | Llandovery College | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Number eight Flanker |
||
| Professional / senior clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1999–2003 2003–2004 2004–2005 2005–2010 2010–2011 2011- |
Newport Leicester Tigers Llanelli Scarlets Cardiff Blues London Wasps Sale Sharks |
50 1 14 6 |
(55) (0) (5) (0) |
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2008– 2009 |
Wales British and Irish Lions |
22 0 |
(5) (0) |
| correct as of 12:53, 21 Oct 2011 (UTC). | |||
Andy Powell is a Welsh international rugby union player now playing his club rugby for Sale Sharks. He is a back row forward who has played for both the Wales sevens team and the Wales national rugby union team as well as the British and Irish Lions
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Born in Brecon, Powell attended Llandovery College and played as an amateur for both Llandovery and Brecon. In 1999 he joined Newport RFC and over the following four seasons he played in fifty matches scoring eleven tries.[2] Mentored by South African Ian McIntosh, he made the Wales Under-21 squad. He then joined Leicester Tigers, before returning to Wales via French club AS Béziers Hérault with the Llanelli Scarlets.
Powell joined the Cardiff Blues in the summer of 2005, making an impact in his first season winning a number of man of the match awards. The 2006/07 season was an exceptionally unlucky one for Powell, who injured his left shoulder in a pre season friendly against Bristol Rugby. The injury required total shoulder reconstruction and he returned to action at the beginning of April 2007. Three games in to his comeback he suffered an identical injury to his right shoulder, which would also require reconstruction. In December 2009, Powell was one of only three British players to be selected for the Barbarians, in their encounter with New Zealand.[3]
In July 2010, Blues agreed to release Powell from his contract, even though it had 12 months remaining, stating that Powell had "lost his way" since the buggy incident.[4][5] Early speculation linked Powell with newly promoted French rugby union team SU Agen, and with Welsh Rugby League club Crusaders.[6] But Powell joined London Wasps on a 12 month contract in July 2010, coached by Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards, which he hoped would improve his chances of a return to the national squad.[7] On 5 May 2011 Andy Powell left London Wasps by mutual consent[8] after a drunken brawl outside a pub.
In May 2011, Powell signed for Sale Sharks after his release by London Wasps.
Powell played his first cap for Wales against South Africa on the 8 November 2008 where he won Man of the Match in the 15 – 20 loss.[9]
On 21 April 2009, Powell was named as a member of the British and Irish Lions for the 2009 tour to South Africa.[10]
Powell was arrested "for taking and driving away a golf buggy" a few hours after the Welsh team's last-minute victory over Scotland in their 2010 Six Nations match. He was arrested near Junction 33 on the M4 motorway at 0600 GMT 14 February 2010.[11][12] The following day, for behaviour "contrary to the squad's code of conduct", he was removed from Wales' 35-man training squad for the Six Nations 2010, and played no further part in the tournament.[13] He was later given a 15 month driving ban and fined after admitting the offence at Cardiff Magistrates court.
Welsh Super League club Crusaders made an approach to sign Powell in 2010, but the offer was rejected.[14] Powell's then agent Mike Burton stated that Powell had a year left on his contract with Cardiff and that he would be honouring it,[15] but Powell then parted company with Burton.[16][17][18] Cardiff Blues wanted £60,000 in compensation from the Crusaders to release Powell from his contract.[19]
Powell has stated that he is interested in switching to rugby league and played during his teenage years with amateur club Cardiff Demons.[20] The Crusaders are interested in signing him for the 2010 season although he stated he would be interested playing in the next year or two and still has ambitions to represent Wales in rugby union.[21] The Crusaders have made an official offer of £240,000.[22] Powell's new agent Emanuele Palladino has since confirmed that Powell will not be joining the Crusaders next season, but he still remains a target for Super League clubs.[23] After being sacked by the Wasps he has again received interest from Crusaders to join them after the 2011 Rugby Union World Cup.[24]
Powell has a unusual style of number 8 play. He is known for his high body position going into contact, which he has been criticised for, as this body position can often lead to turnovers, and many believe that he tries to take on too much responsibility himself with ball in hand.[25] Powell's reluctance to offload and his high 'turned-over' count has led to him being switched from number 8 to blindside flanker, both for Wales and his old club Cardiff, as both coaching teams search for more constructive play.
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