Rob Higgitt
Encyclopedia
Rob Higgitt is a Welsh
rugby union
centre.
Born in St Asaph
, Denbighshire
, Higgitt began his rugby career with Ruthin
, for whom his father was the chairman. He played for Ruthin from the age of 6 until he was 18, when he enrolled at the University of Bath
. While playing rugby for the university's team, Higgitt was spotted by Bristol Rugby
, who signed him up and played him in their Under-21 side. In 2002, he went on a season-long loan to Caerphilly
in the Welsh Premier Division
. Upon his return to Bristol, they were unable to put him on a professional contract immediately, but when he made the first team in November 2003, the club put him on a £6,000 contract.
In five years in the Bristol first team, Higgitt amassed a total of 111 appearances, scoring 20 tries, and became an integral component of the team's defensive line. At the end of the 2007–08 season, Higgitt signed for the Welsh regional team the Scarlets of the Magners League. He scored the final try scored at Llanelli's famous Stradey Park
ground, during the Scarlets' 27–0 victory over Higgitt's former club, Bristol on 24 October 2008.
After a frustrating period of injury he was released by the Scarlets in May 2010. Higgitt joined Worcester Warriors in June on a one-year contract. Rob's contract was not renewed for the 2011/12 season.
For the 2011/12 season, Rob is player-coach at South West 1 West club Thornbury RFC working alongside former Wales captain Gareth Llewellyn
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
rugby union
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...
centre.
Born in St Asaph
St Asaph
St Asaph is a town and community on the River Elwy in Denbighshire, Wales. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 3,491.The town of St Asaph is surrounded by countryside and views of the Vale of Clwyd. It is situated close to a number of busy coastal towns such as Rhyl, Prestatyn, Abergele,...
, Denbighshire
Denbighshire
Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
, Higgitt began his rugby career with Ruthin
Ruthin RFC
Ruthin Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team from the town of Ruthin, North Wales. Ruthin RFC presently play in the Welsh Rugby Union Division Four North League and is a feeder club for the Llanelli Scarlets..-Club history:...
, for whom his father was the chairman. He played for Ruthin from the age of 6 until he was 18, when he enrolled at the University of Bath
University of Bath
The University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
. While playing rugby for the university's team, Higgitt was spotted by Bristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby is a rugby union club based in Bristol, England. The club currently plays in the RFU Championship and competes in the British and Irish Cup. They rely in large part on the many junior rugby clubs in the region, particularly those from 'the Combination'...
, who signed him up and played him in their Under-21 side. In 2002, he went on a season-long loan to Caerphilly
Caerphilly RFC
Caerphilly Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team founded in 1887. Their home ground is Virginia Park in Caerphilly and their nickname is The Cheesemen. Caerphilly RFC currently play in the WRU Division One East and are a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons.Caerphilly RFC also run a...
in the Welsh Premier Division
Welsh Premier Division
The Welsh Premier Division is a rugby union league in Wales first implemented by the Welsh Rugby Union for the 1990–91 season.-Competition history:...
. Upon his return to Bristol, they were unable to put him on a professional contract immediately, but when he made the first team in November 2003, the club put him on a £6,000 contract.
In five years in the Bristol first team, Higgitt amassed a total of 111 appearances, scoring 20 tries, and became an integral component of the team's defensive line. At the end of the 2007–08 season, Higgitt signed for the Welsh regional team the Scarlets of the Magners League. He scored the final try scored at Llanelli's famous Stradey Park
Stradey Park
Stradey Park was a rugby union stadium located near the centre of the town of Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It was the home of the Scarlets region and Llanelli RFC rugby teams. The stadium was a combination of seating and standing with a total capacity of 10,800...
ground, during the Scarlets' 27–0 victory over Higgitt's former club, Bristol on 24 October 2008.
After a frustrating period of injury he was released by the Scarlets in May 2010. Higgitt joined Worcester Warriors in June on a one-year contract. Rob's contract was not renewed for the 2011/12 season.
For the 2011/12 season, Rob is player-coach at South West 1 West club Thornbury RFC working alongside former Wales captain Gareth Llewellyn
Gareth Llewellyn
Gareth Llewellyn was born 27 February 1969 in St. David's Hospital Cardiff whilst his father was serving in Cardiff with the Army, is a Welsh rugby union player who gained a record 92 caps for Wales as a lock. His record for Wales caps has since been surpassed by Gareth Thomas, Colin Charvis,...
.