Will Butler (rugby union)

Will Butler
Birth nameWilliam John Butler
Date of birth (1998-04-17) 17 April 1998 (age 26)
Place of birthSutton Coldfield, England
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight92 kg (203 lb; 14 st 7 lb)
SchoolHereford Cathedral School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Fly-half
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–2022 Worcester Warriors 21 (15)
2021–2022 Cornish Pirates 5 (0)
2022–2023 Hartpury University 13 (5)
2024– Gloucester ()
Correct as of 13 October 2024
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2024 Tasman 10 (3)
Correct as of 13 October 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017–2019 England U20s 16 (5)
Correct as of 13 October 2024

Will Butler (born 17 April 1998) is an English rugby union player who plays for Gloucester in the Gallagher Premiership. His position is Centre.

Early life

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Butler started playing rugby aged seven at Ledbury rugby club and stayed with them through to under 17 level, representing Herefordshire, North Midlands and England Lions Under 16s along the way.[1][2] Butler joined the Worcester Warriors set up aged 14 and made his way up the age groups, helping the Under 18s to finals success both in 2016 and 2017, as they beat both Exeter Chiefs and Saracens.[3][4]

Club career

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Butler came through the Warriors junior academy before joining the senior academy in the summer of 2016. In his first season at Sixways, Butler was a regular for Worcester Cavaliers and was handed his debut in a European Rugby Challenge Cup clash in Moscow against Enisei-STM.[5] An injury sustained during the game in Russia kept him out for most of the season.

On 20 December 2018, Butler signed a two year contract to stay with Worcester.[6]

An elbow injury, sustained in the Premiership Rugby Sevens Series in August 2018, further disrupted Butler's progress but he returned to action in December and impressed for Cavaliers, who he captained in the Premiership Rugby Shield. Butler suffered a further setback when he sustained an ankle injury at Bath in September 2019 and was ruled out for four months.[7][8] He returned to action against Enisei-STM in the European Challenge Cup in January 2020 as a second half replacement and marked his return with a try.[9]

He was appointed Warriors Assistant Club Captain in July 2020.[10] Butler led Worcester in away Premiership matches against Wasps and Exeter Chiefs in August 2020.[11][12]

On 5 October 2022 all Worcester players had their contacts terminated due to the liquidation of the company to which they were contracted.[13]

After Worcester became liquidated, Butler played for Hartpury University in the RFU Championship for the rest of the 2022-23 season. He played for New Zealand province Tasman during the 2024 Bunnings NPC season.[14]

On 5 December 2024, Butler returns to the Gallagher Premiership as he signs for Gloucester with immediate effect in the 2024-25 season.[15]

International career

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Butler scored two tries on his England Under 17s debut against France and played his first game at Under 18 level against same French team in February 2016.[16][17] Butler was also part of the England U20s squad which won the 2017 Six Nations Under 20 Championship, beating Scotland 33–5 in the finals.[18] He was also part of the squad that reached the final of the 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Championship, where they were defeated by New Zealand.[19]

References

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  1. ^ "Chairman's pride at Ledbury Rugby Club's youth set-up after national recognition". Ledbury Reporter. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Hereford Cathedral School's Butler in Midlands under-16 squad". Hereford Times. 26 February 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Worcester Warriors U18s thrash Exeter Chiefs on Academy Finals Day". Worcester News. 15 February 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  4. ^ "SARACENS U18 HAVE NAMED THEIR TEAM TO FACE WORCESTER AT SIXWAYS IN THE U18 FINALS DAY ON THURSDAY". Premiership Rugby. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Enisei STM 19-12 Worcester Warriors". Ultimate Rugby. 15 November 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  6. ^ "First team deal for Will Butler at Worcester Warriors". South Worcester Voice. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Bath 36-28 Worcester Warriors". Ultimate Rugby. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Will Butler: Worcester Warriors ace set to see specialist". Worcester News. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Worcester Warriors 66-10 Enisei STM". Sky Sports. 11 January 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Worcester Warriors appoint Ted Hill, 21, as captain in new leadership group". The Rugby Paper. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  11. ^ "Premiership: Wasps 32-17 Worcester Warriors". BBC Sport. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Premiership: Exeter Chiefs 59-7 Worcester Warriors". BBC Sport. 30 August 2020.
  13. ^ "Worcester player and staff contracts terminated after high court ruling | Worcester | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Taranaki lift Ranfurly Shield off Tasman with NPC title defence looming". 1 News. 6 October 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  15. ^ "Will Butler: Gloucester sign former Worcester Warriors centre". BBC Sport. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  16. ^ "RUGBY: Butler stars in England Under-17 win". Hereford Times. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  17. ^ "Simmons named in England U18s squad". Leicester Tigers. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  18. ^ "Under-20 Six Nations: England beat Scotland 33-5 to win championship". BBC Sport. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  19. ^ "U20 World Championship: New Zealand 64-17 England". Rugby World. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
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