Nick Abendanon
Nick Abendanon | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 27, 1986 Bryanston, South Africa |
| Occupation | Rugby union player (retired) |
| Years active | 2006–2021 |
| Known for | England international rugby union full-back |
Nick Abendanon (born 27 August 1986 in Bryanston, South Africa) is a retired England international rugby union athlete who mainly played as a full-back. He possesses Dutch citizenship through his parental lineage.
Career
Abendanon launched his professional journey during the 2006–07 season with Bath, where he tallied 10 tries across 24 matches, quickly becoming the primary full-back following Matt Perry. His impactful tackling, well-rounded running abilities, and effective counter-attacks played a vital role in Bath’s successes.
His impressive displays secured him an England debut in South Africa in June 2007, with a subsequent appearance against France in August of the same year. Although he was just outside the initial 30-man squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, he was later summoned as injury cover for the tournament’s concluding stages.
In the 2008–09 campaign, Abendanon’s strong form resulted in his inclusion in the England Saxons squad for the 2009 Churchill Cup held in the United States. He continued representing the Saxons during their victorious run at the 2010 Churchill Cup, where he was honored as Player of the Tournament.
Despite a short injury during the 2010–11 season, Abendanon sustained high performance levels and earned promotion to England’s Elite squad, replacing the suspended Delon Armitage. This advancement positioned him as a candidate for selection in the 2011 Six Nations Championship.
After dedicating eight seasons to Bath, Abendanon transferred to French Top 14 side Clermont Auvergne starting from the 2014–15 season. On 12 June 2020, he signed a two-year deal with Pro D2 club Vannes, effective from the 2020–21 season.
Retirement
On 28 October 2021, Abendanon publicly declared his retirement from international rugby through an announcement on Instagram.
External links
- Living people
- 1986 births
- England international rugby union players
- English rugby union players
- Dutch expatriate rugby union players
- Bath Rugby players
- ASM Clermont Auvergne players
- South African people of Dutch descent
- Rugby union fullbacks
- People educated at Cheltenham College
- People educated at Beaudesert Park School
- Rugby union players from Gloucestershire
- 2007 Rugby World Cup players
- Expatriate rugby union players in France