 Skelton playing forLa Rochelle in 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | William Skelton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | (1992-05-03)3 May 1992 (age 32) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Auckland,New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 135 kg (21 st 4 lb; 298 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | The Hills Sports High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Australian Catholic University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Cameron Skelton (brother) Jeral Skelton (cousin) Brad Mika (cousin) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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William Skelton (born 3 May 1992) is anAustralianrugby union player, who plays as alock forLa Rochelle in the FrenchTop 14 competition.
Skelton was born in Auckland,New Zealand, and he is ofSamoan descent; he moved to Australia as a child and qualified for Australia through residency. He won 28 caps forAustralia since 2014 and played at the2015 Rugby World Cup. In August 2023 he was named captain of Australia for the2023 Rugby World Cup.
Skelton was born inAuckland, New Zealand, and moved with his family toSydney at the age of 10.[2] He is the older brother ofCameron Skelton and is a cousin of former New Zealand lockBrad Mika. Though smaller than his younger brother, Skelton weighed 150 kg while still a teenager and he wears size 17 (UK) boots.[3][4][5][6]
He played junior rugby league for theWentworthville Magpies before taking up rugby union at age 15 atThe Hills Sports High School in Seven Hills.[7]
Skelton joined theSydney University rugby club in 2010.[8] In 2011, he was invited into the Waratahs Academy and theARU's National Academy in Sydney. After a promising first year, a fractured foot sustained in February 2012 prevented him from playing for the remainder of the year.[8]
In March 2013, Skelton was signed to the Waratahs' Extended Player Squad by coachMichael Cheika.[2][8] He made his Super Rugby debut against theStormers,[3] and was selected to play for the Waratahs against theBritish and Irish Lions in June of that year.[7]
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In 2014, Skelton was approached byGraham Henry to join theBlues in Auckland, but turned him down.[9] Hisoffload game has been compared toSonny Bill Williams'.[10]
The Waratahs made theSuper Rugby semi-finals in 2015. Skelton was included in the Australia squad for theRugby Championship and he started against theSpringboks in the 24–20 win atSuncorp Stadium.
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On 4 April 2017 it was announced that Skelton was to joinSaracens on a 2-year deal beginning in the 2017/18 season following a successful run of 8 games whilst on a short-term loan earlier in the season.[11] As of September 2018 Skelton had lost 21 kg weight since joining Saracens, bringing his weight to 125–130 kg.[12] During his time at Saracens he has won two Premiership titles in 2018 and 2019.[13][14] He also helped Saracens win theEuropean Champions Cup in 2019.[15]
He signed for French clubLa Rochelle ahead of the 2020–21 season.[16] Skelton was called up to play for the Wallabies again for the2021 end-of-year rugby union internationals, alongside former teammatesKurtley Beale,Tolu Latu andRory Arnold.[17] On 22 June 2021, he extended his contract with the French side until 2025.[18]
On 28 May 2022, he led La Rochelle to an epic 21–24 win againstLeinster in the2022 European Rugby Champions Cup Final atStade Vélodrome inMarseille, being one of the best players on the field and earning his thirdEuropean Rugby Champions Cup trophy.[19] The following season, he won his third Heineken Champions Cup with La Rochelle, beating once again Leinster in the2023 final inDublin, Ireland on 20 May.
Skelton was named in the Australia squad for the June tests in 2014[20] and made his test debut for Australia againstFrance on 21 June 2014. Starting as the right lock and scoring the first try for the Wallabies in their 39–13 win.[21]
Skelton's inclusion in the Wallabies squad for the2015 Rugby World Cup was cut short after he sustained a shoulder injury during the tournament.
In 2016 he struggled with injury but added 4 caps to his tally, coming off the bench in the spring tour in wins againstScotland and France.[22]
1,814 days after his last test cap Skelton came off the bench in the Wallabies 2021 spring tour in 3 tests.[22]
In 2023 Skelton was named the captain of the Wallabies for the2023 Rugby World Cup.[23]