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.png) Launchbury playing forLondon Wasps in 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | Joseph Oliver Launchbury | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | (1991-04-12)12 April 1991 (age 33) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Exeter, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 125 kg (19 st 10 lb; 276 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | St John’s School Sidmouth | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Joseph Oliver Launchbury (born 12 April 1991) is a former Englishrugby unionlock. He representedEngland at international level and previously played for theunder-18s andunder-20s before making his Test debut in 2012. Launchbury plays mainly in the second row but is also comfortable as ablindside flanker.
Born inExeter. Launchbury was introduced to rugby by his first coach - Shaun Parkin at Exmouth RFC. Launchbury was educated at St John’s Sidmouth in EastDevon, where he captained the school rugby team, and Christ's Hospital Horsham. He played forHorsham and also representedBarns Green before joining theHarlequins Academy age 15.[2][3] After Harlequins failed to offer him a professional contract aged 18, he left the club and joined thenNational League 2 South sideWorthing Raiders for the 2009–10 season.[4] His performances at Worthing underWill Green, then head coach and formerWasps player, saw him recommended to his former club once again under the stewardship of renowned coach Bobby Walsh.[5] He played in severalA League matches for Wasps and, after a spell training with theEastern Province Kings in South Africa,[6] did enough to be given a full-time contract from July 2010.[7]
Launchbury was named in Wasps' Academy squad for the 2010–11 season and also joinedNational League 1 sideRosslyn Park on loan to gain senior experience.[2][8][9] Having played the first half of the season for the A team and out on loan, Launchbury made his Wasps' debut on 30 January 2011 in theAnglo-Welsh Cup againstHarlequins as a replacement, scoring a try in a 38–13 defeat.[10] His firstPremiership appearance came the following month againstLeicester Tigers and he remained a fixture in the side for the rest of the season.[11] In May 2011 he was named the club's Young Player and Academy Player of the Season and was rewarded with a new three-year contract.[12][13]
In 2011–12, Launchbury's first full season with Wasps, Launchbury made 15 senior team appearances despite missing four months of the season after injuring his ankle in October.[14][15] He returned to the side in February as a replacement but went into the starting XV for the next game and was ever-present as Wasps retained their Premiership status. All but one of his appearances over the season were made as ablindside flanker despite playing in thesecond row for most of the previous year.[11]
Launchbury graduated from the Academy at the end of the season, moving up to the senior squad alongside several other England youth internationals.[16]
Launchbury extended his contract in November 2012, keeping him with Wasps until 2015.[17] He made 19 appearances during the campaign and was widely recognised for his performances, winning the November Player of the Month award and 2012–13 Premiership Young Player of the Season.[18][19][20] He was also nominated for theRugby Players' Association Players' Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards,[21] missing out on both occasions to Wasps and England teammateChristian Wade,[22] and was among 15 players longlisted for ERC European Player of the Year.[23]
Ahead of the2016/17 Aviva premiership campaign Launchbury was named captain ofWasps.
Wasps entered administration on 17 October 2022 and Launchbury was made redundant along with all other players and coaching staff.[24] Following Wasps' entry into administration, Launchbury signed a short-term deal to join Japanese clubToyota Verblitz from December 2022 to May 2023, for the2022-23Japan Rugby League One season.[25]
On 21 November 2022 it was announced that Launchbury would join Harlequins, signing a multi-year deal to return to the club ahead of the 2023–24 season, following his time in Japan.[26] During the2023–24 Champions Cup, Launchbury made an appearance from the bench, replacingIrné Herbst, as Harlequins beatGlasgow Warriors to record their first ever victory in the knockout stages of theEuropean Rugby Champions Cup.[27]
Launchbury's first international experience came as part of theEngland under-18 side which finished runners-up in the 2009European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship.[2] He moved up to theunder-20s in 2011, making his debut as a replacement againstItaly in theUnder-20s Six Nations.[28] Despite not being included in the original squad he was elevated to the starting line-up for the following game and earned the Man of the Match award againstIreland as England won the Grand Slam.[29][30] He was selected for theJunior World Championship in June the same year and started every game as England reached the final, eventually losing 33–22 toNew Zealand.[31] He was named England Player of the Tournament by his teammates.[2]
In 2012 Launchbury was called up to thesenior squad for thetour of South Africa.[32] He played in the uncapped game against theBarbarians atTwickenham but an injury picked up in training forced him to return home.[33][34] The following month he was included in theSaxons squad and in November was called into the England training camp for theAutumn internationals as injury cover for Wasps teammateTom Palmer.[35][36] He made his Test debut days later as a replacement againstFiji and was promoted to the starting line-up againstAustralia.[37] He retained his place for the match againstNew Zealand as England recorded their first win over the All Blacks since 2003.[38] After impressing in all four Autumn Tests, Launchbury was voted Man of the Series.[39]
Launchbury started in all five of England'sSix Nations matches as they finished runners-up toWales and was named England Player of the Year for 2012–13 in his first season as a senior international.[40] Several commentators backed him for a place in theBritish & Irish Lions squad for the2013 tour to Australia but he was not selected.[41][42][43] Instead he travelled with England for thetour of Argentina, starting both Tests in a 2–0 series win.[28]
Launchbury retained his starting place for the2013 Autumn internationals as England beat first Australia and then Argentina, a game in which he scored his first international try, grounding the ball after arolling maul.[44][45] A second try followed against the All Blacks, although he was forced off after 46 minutes with a shoulder injury. England were unable to repeat the previous year's win, losing 30–22.[46] Launchbury was ever-present during the2014 Six Nations, starting all five games including the match againstIreland in which he made 15 tackles and won three turnovers.[28][47] His partnership in the second row withCourtney Lawes, which began during the Autumn internationals,[48] was praised throughout the tournament as England finished runners-up for the second year in a row.[49][47][50]
Launchbury was among an initial group of 30 players selected for the three Testsummer tour to New Zealand.[51] He started the first two games, in which England were defeated narrowly,.[28] He was dropped for the third Test but was restored to the starting line-up afterGeoff Parling failed to overcome an injury sustained in the second game.[52] England lost the game 36–13, their heaviest defeat of the tour, as New Zealand took the series 3–0.[53]
Launchbury was named Man of the Match in two consecutive Six Nations games: against Wales and Italy. Launchbury was not selected to be a member of the British an Irish Lions Touring party to New Zealand, which was a controversial call following his success in the Six Nations. Many Rugby experts were left confused by Launchbury's shock omission from the Squad.
Launchbury was called up for the 2022 Six Nations to replace Lewis Ludlam, who suffered a rib injury in the second half of England’s first match against Scotland.
| Try | Opposing team | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Argentina | London,England | Twickenham Stadium | 2013 Autumn Internationals | 9 November 2013 | Win | 31 – 12 |
| 2 |  New Zealand | London, England | Twickenham Stadium | 2013 Autumn Internationals | 16 November 2013 | Loss | 22 – 30 |
| 3 |  Fiji | London, England | Twickenham Stadium | 2016 Autumn Internationals | 19 November 2016 | Win | 58 – 15 |
| 4 | |||||||
| 5 |  Scotland | London, England | Twickenham Stadium | 2019 Six Nations | 16 March 2019 | Draw | 38 – 38 |
Launchbury is married to Mallory Bourn and they have three children, Blythe Alexandra, Hayden Oliver and Quinn Alexander. His brother in law is footballerKorey Smith (their wives are sisters).[55][56][57]
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