Geoff Appleford
Encyclopedia
Geoff Appleford is a retired rugby union
footballer who played for London Irish
at centre, then ended his career with Northampton Saints
, although because of injury he never played a competitive game for the club. Geoff also played for England
. He was educated at Maritzburg College
.
A former Natal Shark and Mpumalanga Puma
, Appleford joined London Irish
in 2000. He made his England Sevens
debut in 2001 and won his full England
cap in 2002; qualifying through his grandparents. He was a member of London Irish
’s Powergen Cup winning team of 2002.
In the summer of 2005 Appleford joined Northampton Saints
.
In January 2007 Appleford was forced to take early retirement after failing to recover fully from a shoulder injury.
Also, Appleford is possibly the only player to be signed whilst injured and retire having not played a game for them.
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 played for London Irish
London Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
at centre, then ended his career with 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....
, although because of injury he never played a competitive game for the club. Geoff also played for England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
. He was educated at Maritzburg College
Maritzburg College
Maritzburg College, known locally as College, is a public school for boys situated in the city of Pietermaritzburg, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa....
.
A former Natal Shark and Mpumalanga Puma
Pumas (rugby team)
The Ford Pumas are a South African rugby union team that competes in the Premier Division of the 2011 Currie Cup. Based at Puma Stadium in Witbank as well as the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, the team draws their players from Mpumalanga Province .The Pumas won the Currie Cup First Division The...
, Appleford joined London Irish
London Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
in 2000. He 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 2001 and won his full England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
cap in 2002; qualifying through his grandparents. He was a member of London Irish
London Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
’s Powergen Cup winning team of 2002.
In the summer of 2005 Appleford 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....
.
In January 2007 Appleford was forced to take early retirement after failing to recover fully from a shoulder injury.
Also, Appleford is possibly the only player to be signed whilst injured and retire having not played a game for them.