Sam Vesty
Encyclopedia
Samuel Brook Vesty is an English rugby union
footballer who plays utility back (though his preferred position is full back) for Bath Rugby
.
Vesty is the fourth generation of his family to play for the Tigers. His father Phil Vesty made 47 first-team appearances for Leicester as a prop between 1971–1976, his paternal grandfather Albert (Bernard) Vesty made one appearance for Leicester on the wing in the last game of the 1946/47 season, and a great-grandfather, Jack Dickens, a centre-cum-wing, made 15 first-team appearances for Tigers in the 1909–1910 season. Vesty is an all-round sportsman, having played as a wicket-keeper
/batsman for Leicestershire C.C.C.'s 2nd XI before having to give up cricket
to focus on his rugby. He has also played tennis
to county level.
He attended John Cleveland College
, and plays in a rock band with other Tigers players Dan Hipkiss
, Aaron Mauger
and George Chuter
called Slo Progress.
in the Orange cup.
Vesty can play full back, fly-half or centre. He has also played one game the wing, though his lack of pace proved problematic. His strengths lie in the fact that he is an all-round footballer, with good ball handling and kicking skills.
Initially Vesty played as a fly-half after Andy Goode
moved to Saracens
, but he was young, inexperienced and at 12 stone had not properly bulked out (he is now 14 stone). He played in other backs positions and was voted the members player of the year for the 2005/06 season.
He did not feature much in the early part of the 2008/09 season and had been considering leaving Leicester to get game time when circumstances changed in February 2009. With Toby Flood
with the squad and Derick Hougaard
injured, Vesty was brought back to play at fly-half. This coincided with a change in fortune for Leicester who started rising up the Guinness Premiership
table. Vesty remained in the team either at fly-half or inside centre for the rest of the season.
In April 2010 it was announced Vesty would be joining Bath Rugby on a 3 year contract at the end of the season.
Vesty was rewarded for his good end to season with a call up to the full England squad for the summer tour against . He made his début off the bench against Argentina in Old Trafford
in June 2009.
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 utility back (though his preferred position is full back) for Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...
.
Vesty is the fourth generation of his family to play for the Tigers. His father Phil Vesty made 47 first-team appearances for Leicester as a prop between 1971–1976, his paternal grandfather Albert (Bernard) Vesty made one appearance for Leicester on the wing in the last game of the 1946/47 season, and a great-grandfather, Jack Dickens, a centre-cum-wing, made 15 first-team appearances for Tigers in the 1909–1910 season. Vesty is an all-round sportsman, having played as a wicket-keeper
Wicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
/batsman for Leicestershire C.C.C.'s 2nd XI before having to give up cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
to focus on his rugby. He has also played tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
to county level.
He attended John Cleveland College
John Cleveland College
John Cleveland College is a state Comprehensive school in Hinckley, Leicestershire, England.-Admissions:The school also comprises a sixth form with approximately 470 students, and a nursery with around 50 infants...
, and plays in a rock band with other Tigers players Dan Hipkiss
Dan Hipkiss
Daniel James Hipkiss is a professional Rugby Union player who currently plays at Centre for Bath Rugby. Hipkiss has represented England at U16, U17, U18, U21 and England A. His full England début came versus Wales in a World Cup warm up match at Twickenham on 4 August 2007.He went to school at...
, Aaron Mauger
Aaron Mauger
Aaron Joseph Douglas Mauger is a former rugby union player who played at centre for Leicester Tigers. He previously played first five-eighths and second five-eighths for Canterbury , the Crusaders and the New Zealand All Blacks...
and George Chuter
George Chuter
George Scala Chuter is an English rugby union player who plays at Hooker for Leicester Tigers.-Biography:...
called Slo Progress.
Rugby career
Vesty came through the Tigers academy, making his first team début in 2002 BiarritzBiarritz Olympique
Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque is a French professional rugby union team based in the Basque city of Biarritz, Aquitaine which competes in the Top 14 and the Heineken Cup...
in the Orange cup.
Vesty can play full back, fly-half or centre. He has also played one game the wing, though his lack of pace proved problematic. His strengths lie in the fact that he is an all-round footballer, with good ball handling and kicking skills.
Initially Vesty played as a fly-half after Andy Goode
Andy Goode
Andrew James Goode is a rugby union footballer who plays fly-half for Worcester and England.-Career:...
moved to Saracens
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
, but he was young, inexperienced and at 12 stone had not properly bulked out (he is now 14 stone). He played in other backs positions and was voted the members player of the year for the 2005/06 season.
He did not feature much in the early part of the 2008/09 season and had been considering leaving Leicester to get game time when circumstances changed in February 2009. With Toby Flood
Toby Flood
Tobias Gerald Albert Lieven "Toby" Flood is an English rugby union player. He currently plays at fly half or inside centre for Leicester Tigers, having signed from Newcastle Falcons, and England.-Background:...
with the squad and Derick Hougaard
Derick Hougaard
Derick Hougaard is a South African rugby union player who plays for Saracens in England. He normally plays at flyhalf...
injured, Vesty was brought back to play at fly-half. This coincided with a change in fortune for Leicester who started rising up the Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
table. Vesty remained in the team either at fly-half or inside centre for the rest of the season.
In April 2010 it was announced Vesty would be joining Bath Rugby on a 3 year contract at the end of the season.
Vesty was rewarded for his good end to season with a call up to the full England squad for the summer tour against . He made his début off the bench against Argentina in Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
in June 2009.