Graham Kitchener
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| Date of birth | 29 September 1989 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Bromley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 121 kg (19 st 1 lb; 267 lb) [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Adams' Grammar School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Birmingham University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Graham Kitchener (born 29 September 1989 in Bromley) is an English rugby union player for Leicester Tigers in the Aviva Premiership. He plays as a lock but can also play as a blindside flanker.
He has represented England at Under 16, 18 and Under 20 level, and played a part in the Under 20's 6 nations grand slam in 2008.[2] He was also a crucial member of the 2009 Under 20 squad, reaching the final of the JWC.[3]
Kitchener attended Adams' Grammar School in Newport like fellow professional rugby player Peter Short of Bath Rugby.[4]
A talented all round athlete, he spent 3 years playing football for Wolverhampton Wanderers Academy before deciding to focus on rugby. He was a schoolboy cricketer for Shropshire and was the Midlands Under 17 Shot Put champion, before finishing 6th in the English Schools championships. He combines his commitments as a professional rugby player with a full-time degree at University of Birmingham
A graduate of the academy system at Aviva Premiership club Worcester Warriors, Graham Kitchener left the Warriors to join Leicester Tigers for the 2011-12 season.
He played for the England Saxons through 2011, including their successful Churchill Cup campaign.
Kitchener was selected for the England squad to face the Barbarians in the summer of 2014.[5]
He was called up to the senior England squad for the 2015 Six Nations Championship.[6]
References
- ↑ "Aviva Premiership Rugby - Gloucester Rugby". web page. Premier Rugby. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
- ↑ "England U-20 43–14 Ireland U-20". RTÉ. 2008-03-14. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
- ↑ "England lose out to New Zealand in Junior final". RFU. 21 June 2009. Archived from the original on 24 June 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
- ↑ "Kitchener Lords it at Sixways". BBC. 2007-11-01. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
- ↑ "Mike Brown: Harlequins full-back one of 21 added by England". BBC Sport. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
- ↑ "Easter and Cipriani included in England training squad". englandrugby.com. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2017.