Graham Kitchener
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| Date of birth | 29 September 1989 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Bromley, Greater London, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Andrew Kitchener (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Graham Kitchener (born 29 September 1989 in Bromley) is an English rugby union player. His position is lock.
He has represented England at Under 16, 18 and Under 20 level, and played a part in the Under 20s 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.[citation needed] He was a schoolboy cricketer for Shropshire[citation needed] and was the Midlands Under 17 Shot Put champion,[citation needed] 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[citation needed]
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. Kitchener started the 2013 Premiership final and scored a try as Leicester defeated Northampton Saints.[5]
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.[6]
He was called up to the senior England squad for the 2015 Six Nations Championship.[7]
On 4 February 2019, Graham would re-sign for his old club Worcester Warriors, effectively leaving Leicester from the 2019-20 season.[8]
On 5 October 2022 all Worcester players had their contacts terminated due to the liquidation of the company to which they were contracted.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "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. 14 March 2008. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
- ^ "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. 1 November 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
- ^ "Aviva Premiership final: Leicester 37-17 Northampton". BBC. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Graham Kitchener re-signs for Worcester Warriors from Leicester Tigers". Sky Sports. 4 February 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
- ^ "Worcester player and staff contracts terminated after high court ruling | Worcester | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 5 October 2022.