Alex Cuthbert (born 5 April 1990) is a Welsh

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...

player. Born in

Gloucester Gloucester ( ) is a cathedral city and the county town of Gloucestershire in the South West of England. Gloucester lies on the River Severn, between the Cotswolds to the east and the Forest of Dean to the west, east of Monmouth and east ...

, he plays on the

wing A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is e ...

for the Ospreys and the Wales national team.

Early life

Born in

, Cuthbert went to Newent Community School. He gained a diploma at

Hartpury College Hartpury University and Hartpury College, formerly Hartpury College, is a provider of further and higher education which describes itself as specialising in the "agriculture, animal, equine, sport and veterinary nursing" sectors. The university a ...

before studying at

Cardiff Metropolitan University , image_name = Shield of Cardiff Metropolitan University.svg , image_size = 150px , motto = cy, Gorau Meddiant Gwybodaeth , mottoeng = The most valuable possession is knowledge , established = 2011 – Car ...

Playing career

Cuthbert first played rugby during his years studying at Newent Community School playing club rugby for Hucclecote RFC and Westbury-on-Severn RFC. He later moved to Hartpury College where he was a member of Hartpury College R.F.C., coached by Allan Lewis in a team that included

Jonny May Jonathan James May (born 1 April 1990) is a professional rugby union player for Gloucester in Premiership Rugby and for the national team. He plays as a winger and is known for his speed and try scoring. He began his senior career at Glouces ...

on the opposite wing. He then moved to study at UWIC, where he played for both the college and Cardiff RFC. Cuthbert came to wider attention in 2011 with the Cardiff Blues. As an attacking threat he underlined his credentials during the region's Heineken Cup campaign - scoring a brace as they secured a quarter-final berth with victory over

Racing Metro Racing 92 () is a French rugby union club based in suburban Paris that was formed in 2001 with the collaboration of the Racing Club de France and US Métro. They were called Racing Métro 92 between 2001 and 2015, when they changed the name t ...

International career

Wales

Although born and raised in England, Cuthbert qualifies for Wales as his mother was born in

Wrexham Wrexham ( ; cy, Wrecsam; ) is a city and the administrative centre of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is located between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley, near the border with Cheshire in England. Historically in the count ...

. He was noticed by Wales rugby sevens team coach Paul John. As a result, Cuthbert played for them in the 2009-2010 and the 2010-2011 IRB Sevens World Series, and in the

2010 Commonwealth Games The 2010 Commonwealth Games (Hindi: 2010 राष्ट्रमण्डल खेल), officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Delhi 2010, was an international multi-sport event that was held in Delhi, India, ...

. Wales' senior management were also quick to take notice of Cuthbert's emergence, and he made his debut in the 12/11 international against Australia. There he replaced

George North George Philip North (born 13 April 1992) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays for the Ospreys in the United Rugby Championship and the Wales national team. He has also represented the British & Irish Lions and currently has th ...

in the second-half, but it was the slot vacated by the retired Shane Williams that became his for the opening game of the 2012 Six Nations. At around 6'5, unusually tall for a winger, he represented a change of style from Williams' dancing feet and low centre of gravity, but his domestic form, pace and finishing prowess stacked up for Warren Gatland. Cuthbert featured in the starting line-up in all five games of Wales'

2012 Six Nations Championship The 2012 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2012 RBS 6 Nations due to the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the 13th series of the Six Nations Championship. The annual northern hemisphere rugby union championship wa ...

. He scored the opening try for Wales during their 27–13 victory over Scotland, then scored the second try of Wales' convincing 24–3 win over Italy in the penultimate round of the tournament. He was awarded man of the match for this performance. Cuthbert scored the only try in the final game of Wales' Six Nations campaign of 2012, against France, helping them to win the Grand Slam for the third time in eight seasons. In the Autumn internationals of 2012 against Argentina, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia, Cuthbert was selected to play in each game. During the game against New Zealand, he scored the second Welsh try. He scored two tries for Wales against England in the title decider of the

2013 Six Nations Championship The 2013 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2013 RBS 6 Nations because of the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the 14th series of the Six Nations Championship, the annual northern hemisphere rugby union championship ...

British & Irish Lions

Cuthbert was selected for the

2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia The 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia was a rugby union tour during June and July 2013. The British & Irish Lions played ten matches - a three-test series against Australia, and matches against the five Australian Super Rugby sides, a ...

, playing and scoring a try in the First Test, which the Lions won.

International tries

Wales

British & Irish Lions

Personal life

Cuthbert has discussed the impact of adverse social media at times in his career.

References

External links

*
Profile
at WRU.co.uk
Profile
at lionsrugby.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Cuthbert, Alex 1990 births Living people Alumni of Hartpury College British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Wales Cardiff Rugby players Commonwealth Games rugby sevens players for Wales English people of Welsh descent English rugby union players Rugby sevens players at the 2010 Commonwealth Games Rugby union players from Gloucester Rugby union wings Wales international rugby union players Welsh rugby union players Exeter Chiefs players Ospreys (rugby union) players