English rugby union player
Rugby player
Iwan Stephens
Date of birth (2002-03-24 ) 24 March 2002 (age 22) [ 1] Place of birth Leeds , EnglandHeight 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) Weight 83 kg (13 st 1 lb)[ 2] Notable relative(s) Colin Stephens (Father)
Iwan Stephens (born 24 March 2002) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for United Rugby Championship club Cardiff .
Born in Leeds , Stephens began playing rugby league as an 11 year-old but also played rugby union for his local club Morley and was in the academy of Leeds Tykes until the age of fifteen. He is also a qualified joiner .[ 3] [ 4]
Stephens left Super League side Leeds Rhinos to join the academy at Newcastle Falcons in September 2020.[ 5] Stephens scored a try on debut for Newcastle Falcons against Harlequins in September 2021.[ 6] [ 7] He followed that up with a try in his second match, against Bath Rugby the next weekend and was named in the Rugby Premiership team of the week.[ 8] In April 2022, he signed a new two-year contract with Newcastle Falcons.[ 9] [ 10]
In May 2024 it was announced that Stephens would join Cardiff Rugby for the 2024–25 United Rugby Championship .[ 7]
International career [ edit ] Qualified to play for England or Wales, Stephens is a former England Academy rugby league international, and once scored a try and six goals in England Academy's 62-0 win over Wales in Llanelli .[ 11]
Stephens went on to represent the England U20 rugby union team , playing for the first time in March 2022 during the 2022 Six Nations Under 20s Championship .[ 12] Later that year in July 2022 he scored his first try for England U20 in a 37-36 defeat against Ireland .[ 13]
Stephens is the son of Welsh former rugby international Colin Stephens who after his rugby career became head of rugby at Leeds Beckett University .[ 14] [ 15]
^ "Iwan Stephens" . Ultimate Rugby . Retrieved 18 January 2024 .
^ "Iwan Stephens" . All.Rugby . Retrieved 18 January 2024 .
^ Mockford, Sarah (9 March 2022). "Hotshot: Newcastle wing Iwan Stephens" . Rugby World . Retrieved 18 January 2024 .
^ "NEWCASTLE FALCONS SWOOP FOR RUGBY LEAGUE PROSPECT IWAN STEPHENS" . Premiershiprugby.com . Retrieved 18 January 2024 .
^ Orders, Mark (4 September 2020). "Prodigiously talented son of Wales fly-half switches from rugby league to union in big move" . Walesonline . Retrieved 18 January 2024 .
^ Ellis, Adam (3 October 2021). "Iwan Stephens" . The Rugby Paper . Retrieved 18 January 2024 .
^ a b "Cardiff sign Wales-qualified wing Stephens from Newcastle" . BBC Sport . 13 May 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024 .
^ Orders, Mark (29 September 2021). "Two gifted Welsh youngsters make huge mark as they are named in English Premiership team of the week" . WalesOnline . Retrieved 18 January 2024 .
^ Orders, Mark (13 February 2022). "English Premiership club nail down former Wales fly-half's gifted son 'who has X-factor and gets supporters on their feet' " . Walesonline . Retrieved 18 January 2024 .
^ "Iwan Stephens: Newcastle Falcons winger signs two-year deal with Premiership club" . BBC Sport . 13 April 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2024 .
^ Orders, Mark (1 May 2021). "Welsh rugby cult hero's son with 'outstanding athleticism' looks to make it big after joining English Premiership from Rugby League" . WalesOnline . Retrieved 18 January 2024 .
^ "Newcastle Falcons re-sign two players" . Premiership Rugby. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2024 .
^ O'Sullivan, John (5 July 2022). "Sam Prendergast kicks Ireland under-20s to last ditch victory over England in Verona" . Irish Times . Retrieved 24 June 2024 .
^ Elam, Dennis (22 September 2021). "Iwan Stephens, son of Colin, makes try scoring debut for Newcastle Falcons" . Pitchero . Retrieved 18 January 2024 .
^ Orders, Mark (28 August 2022). "Son of a Wales fly-half shows dazzling footwork and leaves defenders in his wake to set up stunning try in England" . WalesOnline . Retrieved 18 January 2024 .