Andy Vilk
Encyclopedia
Andrew Vilk is a rugby union
footballer who plays at centre for Rugby Lions
. He is a strong and powerful runner.
From Hammersmith
, his parents moved to Goring-On-Thames
when he was very young. He was educated at The Oratory School
, near Reading
, where he played both rugby and soccer until he was 17. At 18 he spent a year in New Zealand
aiding the Physical Education department at Tauranga Boys' College
and mentoring children with learning difficulties, primarily helping develop reading skills. He returned to take a Geography degree at Loughborough University
and came under the gaze of mentor Alan Buzza.
For the 2003/04 season, Andy joined Northampton Saints
Senior Academy from Loughborough University
, when he was the leading try
scorer in the Northern Conference of the Zurich A League. He also made his first team debut against Rotherham
that season. In 2006 he transferred to Sale Sharks
.
In February 2005, Andy made his England Sevens
debut in Wellington
and was a member of the winning side at the 2006 Hong Kong Sevens
, he also won a Commonwealth medal at Melbourne. He has also been a member of winning sides at tournaments in Dubai, Los Angeles and Wellington in the IRB World Sevens Series. He has played 31 tournaments for England (26 consecutive): 29 IRB World Sevens Series Tournaments, 1 Commonwealth Games and the Rugby Sevens World Cup in Dubai 2009.
Andy was the captain of the England Sevens team in the 2007-2008 world series, and successfully beat New Zealand for the first time in four years in the London leg of the 7's series. The following week the England side reached the final of the Edinburgh leg of the 7's series.
He joined Benetton Rugby Treviso
from Sale Sharks in 2008. With Benetton Treviso he won Italian Super 10 titles in both 2008/09 and 2009/10. Andy scored the opening try of the 2008/09 final at Rome's Stadio Flaminio which Benetton went on to win 29-20. In the 2009/10 final Andy scored the only try, securing the Man of the Match award in a game Benetton won 16-12.
He has played in every Heineken Cup match to date in his three seasons with Benetton Treviso (starting 15 and coming off the bench in 1).
Andy currently writes a weekly column for Rugby Times magazine and Sportpost.com on life and rugby in Italy, and he can be heard contributing to Absolute Radio's Rock and Roll Sports podcast.
In July 2011, Vilk joined Rugby Lions
on a free transfer.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer who plays at centre for Rugby Lions
Rugby Lions
Rugby Football Club, nicknamed the Lions, is a rugby union club based in Rugby, Warwickshire in England . Rugby currently compete in National League 3 Midlands...
. He is a strong and powerful runner.
From Hammersmith
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
, his parents moved to Goring-On-Thames
Goring-On-Thames
Goring-on-Thames is a large village and civil parish on the River Thames in South Oxfordshire, about south of Wallingford.-Geography:...
when he was very young. He was educated at The Oratory School
The Oratory School
The Oratory School is a Roman Catholic, independent school for boys in Woodcote, Berkshire. It is the last Catholic all-boys boarding school remaining in Great Britain. It has approximately 420 pupils...
, near Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, where he played both rugby and soccer until he was 17. At 18 he spent a year in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
aiding the Physical Education department at Tauranga Boys' College
Tauranga Boys' College
Tauranga Boys' College is a state secondary school for boys, located on the edge of the downtown area of Tauranga, New Zealand. The school was founded in 1958. The school prides itself on its successful involvement in academia, sport and the arts.-History:...
and mentoring children with learning difficulties, primarily helping develop reading skills. He returned to take a Geography degree at Loughborough University
Loughborough University
Loughborough University is a research based campus university located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the East Midlands of England...
and came under the gaze of mentor Alan Buzza.
For the 2003/04 season, Andy joined Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
Senior Academy from Loughborough University
Loughborough University
Loughborough University is a research based campus university located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the East Midlands of England...
, when he was the leading try
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
scorer in the Northern Conference of the Zurich A League. He also made his first team debut against Rotherham
Rotherham R.U.F.C.
Rotherham Rugby Union Football Club, or Rotherham Titans are a professional rugby union team from Rotherham, Yorkshire, currently playing in the English RFU Championship-History:...
that season. In 2006 he transferred to Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
.
In February 2005, Andy made his England Sevens
England national rugby union team (sevens)
The English national rugby union sevens team compete in the World Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-Honours:* 1973 International Seven-A-Side Tournament - Winners* Rugby World Cup Sevens Winners 1993* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 2002* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 2003*...
debut in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
and was a member of the winning side at the 2006 Hong Kong Sevens
Hong Kong Sevens
The Hong Kong Sevens is considered the premier tournament on the IRB Sevens World Series in rugby sevens—a variant of rugby union....
, he also won a Commonwealth medal at Melbourne. He has also been a member of winning sides at tournaments in Dubai, Los Angeles and Wellington in the IRB World Sevens Series. He has played 31 tournaments for England (26 consecutive): 29 IRB World Sevens Series Tournaments, 1 Commonwealth Games and the Rugby Sevens World Cup in Dubai 2009.
Andy was the captain of the England Sevens team in the 2007-2008 world series, and successfully beat New Zealand for the first time in four years in the London leg of the 7's series. The following week the England side reached the final of the Edinburgh leg of the 7's series.
He joined Benetton Rugby Treviso
Benetton Rugby Treviso
Benetton Rugby Treviso are an Italian professional rugby union club currently competing in the RaboDirect Pro12 and the Heineken Cup.They are based in Treviso in Veneto, and owned by the Benetton clothing company....
from Sale Sharks in 2008. With Benetton Treviso he won Italian Super 10 titles in both 2008/09 and 2009/10. Andy scored the opening try of the 2008/09 final at Rome's Stadio Flaminio which Benetton went on to win 29-20. In the 2009/10 final Andy scored the only try, securing the Man of the Match award in a game Benetton won 16-12.
He has played in every Heineken Cup match to date in his three seasons with Benetton Treviso (starting 15 and coming off the bench in 1).
Andy currently writes a weekly column for Rugby Times magazine and Sportpost.com on life and rugby in Italy, and he can be heard contributing to Absolute Radio's Rock and Roll Sports podcast.
In July 2011, Vilk joined Rugby Lions
Rugby Lions
Rugby Football Club, nicknamed the Lions, is a rugby union club based in Rugby, Warwickshire in England . Rugby currently compete in National League 3 Midlands...
on a free transfer.