Alexander David Goode (born 7 May 1988) is an English professional rugby union player playing for

Saracens file:Erhard Reuwich Sarazenen 1486.png, upright 1.5, Late 15th-century Germany in the Middle Ages, German woodcut depicting Saracens Saracen ( ) was a term used in the early centuries, both in Greek language, Greek and Latin writings, to refer ...

in Premiership Rugby.

Biography

All-rounder Goode appeared at the national schools athletics finals, played county tennis and was part of the Ipswich Town football academy before joining Saracens. He is the nephew of Jo Goode, who won an Olympic bronze in Badminton in

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

. A fly half by trade, he moved to full back and has played the majority of his games for Saracens in these positions. He was educated at

St Faith's School St Faith's School is an independent preparatory day school on Trumpington Road, Cambridge, England, for girls and boys aged four to thirteen. The headmaster is Crispin Hyde-Dunn, and the school has in excess of five hundred children. St Faith's ...

, The Leys School and Oakham School, and at the University of Hertfordshire.

Club career

He joined the academy structure at

ahead of the 2006–2007 season, and made his club debut against Bristol. He has since signed several contract extensions. He was awarded the 2019 European Player of the Year award. During his time at Saracens he has won five Premiership titles in 2011, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019, with Goode featuring in all five finals and scoring a try in the 2016 final. He also helped Saracens win the European Champions Cup in 2016, 2017 and 2019, scoring a try in the 2017 final. He spent a season on loan to Japanese side NEC Green Rockets while Saracens competed in the

2020–21 RFU Championship The 2020–21 RFU Championship, also known as the 2020–21 Greene King IPA Championship for sponsorship reasons, was the twelfth season of the RFU Championship, the professional second tier of rugby union in England. It featured ten English teams ...

. After Saracens' quick return he returned to them for the following season. He has since become the most capped Saracens player in their history - with 339 appearances for the London club.

International career

Goode represented England at Under 16A and Under 18 level. Goode played at the

2007 Under 19 Rugby World Championship The International Rugby Board (IRB) awarded the 2007 Under 19 Rugby World Championship to the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and the Ulster branch hosted it. The Tournament, which took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland from 4–21 April, ...

. In 2008 Goode was a member of the England under-20 team that won the grand slam and reached the final of the

2008 IRB Junior World Championship The 2008 IRB Junior World Championship was the first annual international rugby union competition for Under 20 national teams. All players who were twenty years of age or under on 1 January 2008 were eligible for selection. This competition repla ...

. In January 2009 Goode made his debut for the England Saxons, against . On 16 June 2012 Goode made his test debut for England against South Africa, coming off the bench on 16 June 2012 in a 36–27 loss. Goode was part of the squad selected for the 2012 Autumn internationals, because of injuries to Ben Foden he started all four of the games at full back. He played well enough to earn himself QBE Man of the Match in England's 54–12 win over Fiji. Goode also featured in 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 ...

, playing all five games including the Grand Slam decider at Cardiff's

Millennium Stadium The Millennium Stadium ( cy, Stadiwm y Mileniwm), known since 2016 as the Principality Stadium ( cy, Stadiwm Principality) for sponsorship reasons, is the national stadium of Wales. Located in Cardiff, it is the home of the Wales national rug ...

. Unfortunately a shoulder injury and subsequent reconstructive surgery sidelined him for England's summer tour to Argentina.

International tries

References

External links

Saracens profileEngland profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goode, Alex 1988 births Living people Alumni of the University of Hertfordshire Cambridge R.U.F.C. players English rugby union players Rugby union players from Cambridge People educated at Oakham School People educated at The Leys School Saracens F.C. players England international rugby union players Rugby union fly-halves