Kris Chesney
Encyclopedia
Kris Chesney is a rugby union
footballer who plays at flanker
, number 8 and lock for Toulon
. At a national level he has appeared in England Sevens
and England U21 teams. He also played rugby league
for a time on loan with the London Broncos (now Harlequins RL).
, east London on 2 March 1974 and educated at the Chadwell Heath Foundation School
,now known as Chadwell Heath Academy. Chesney did not play rugby until he was 18 because only football, basketball and cricket were played at his school. It was a number of friends in his cricket club who also played rugby at Barking RFC
who suggested that he give the game a try.
Barking
Chesney developed his skills playing for Barking RFC
until, on the threshold of the professional era, he moved to Saracens
in 1995, having rejected overtures from Harlequins
and London Wasps
. Despite his late introduction to the sport his progress was sufficiently rapid to merit inclusion in England U21 sides.
on 1 July 1995, making his debut against Shannon RFC
at the start of the 1995-96 Allied Dunbar Premiership
season on 2 September of that year. Despite this early run out, first team appearances proved hard to come by and by 1998 spells on loan to Bristol Rugby
and crossing codes to appear for the then London Broncos.
Upon his return to Saracens first team starts came along more often and by the 1999-00 season he had become a regular with 19 appearances in the Allied Dunbar Premiership
alone. After this break through Chesney rarely relinquished his position as a first choice selection other than through injury, such as the serious cruciate and medial knee ligament damage during the 2000-01 season.
One of Chesney's key strengths has been the speed he can generate for his size, which was clearly an asset that was considered in his selection to play in the England Sevens
team. He has been timed at 11.2 seconds over 100 metres, and demonstrated this speed in scoring a try against the Newcastle Falcons
which brought him the award of Try of the Season for the 2004-05 season.
Along with Richard Hill
and Kevin Sorrell
he forms part of a triumvirate that has been with the club through the entire professional era and still justified 33 appearances in the 2006-07 season. In the 2007-08 Guinness Premiership
season Chesney passed the milestone of 300 appearances for Saracens in all competition and 150 appearances in the English Premiership
.
broke down due to Chesney's desire to stay and finish his career with Toulon
.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer who plays at flanker
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
, number 8 and lock for Toulon
RC Toulonnais
RC Toulonnais is a French professional rugby union club based in Toulon in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
. At a national level he has appeared in England Sevens
England national rugby union team (sevens)
The English national rugby union sevens team compete in the World Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-Honours:* 1973 International Seven-A-Side Tournament - Winners* Rugby World Cup Sevens Winners 1993* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 2002* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 2003*...
and England U21 teams. He also played rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
for a time on loan with the London Broncos (now Harlequins RL).
Early life
Chesney was born in IlfordIlford
Ilford is a large cosmopolitan town in East London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Redbridge. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It forms a significant commercial and retail...
, east London on 2 March 1974 and educated at the Chadwell Heath Foundation School
Chadwell Heath Foundation School
Chadwell Heath Academy is an all ability, academy school located in Chadwell Heath in the London Borough of Redbridge. The school has approximately 1200 pupils on roll, including 300 in the Sixth Form...
,now known as Chadwell Heath Academy. Chesney did not play rugby until he was 18 because only football, basketball and cricket were played at his school. It was a number of friends in his cricket club who also played rugby at Barking RFC
Barking RFC
Barking RFC is an English rugby union team currently playing in National League 1.- Park Modern Old Boys:The club was founded in 1930, under the name of Park Modern Old Boys. In 1926 the Park Modern School in Barking was founded and the headmaster decided that the school would play rugby, despite...
who suggested that he give the game a try.
Barking RFC 1993 -95
Chesney developed his skills playing for Barking RFCBarking RFC
Barking RFC is an English rugby union team currently playing in National League 1.- Park Modern Old Boys:The club was founded in 1930, under the name of Park Modern Old Boys. In 1926 the Park Modern School in Barking was founded and the headmaster decided that the school would play rugby, despite...
until, on the threshold of the professional era, he moved to Saracens
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
in 1995, having rejected overtures from Harlequins
Harlequin F.C.
The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
and London Wasps
London Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
. Despite his late introduction to the sport his progress was sufficiently rapid to merit inclusion in England U21 sides.
Saracens 1995-2009
Chesney formally joined SaracensSaracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
on 1 July 1995, making his debut against Shannon RFC
Shannon RFC
Shannon Rugby Football Club is an amateur rugby union team from Ireland, they hail from Limerick near the banks of the Shannon river. The club is a member of the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch and as one of the top amateur sides in Ireland has seen many of its players progress to...
at the start of the 1995-96 Allied Dunbar Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
season on 2 September of that year. Despite this early run out, first team appearances proved hard to come by and by 1998 spells on loan to Bristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby is a rugby union club based in Bristol, England. The club currently plays in the RFU Championship and competes in the British and Irish Cup. They rely in large part on the many junior rugby clubs in the region, particularly those from 'the Combination'...
and crossing codes to appear for the then London Broncos.
Upon his return to Saracens first team starts came along more often and by the 1999-00 season he had become a regular with 19 appearances in the Allied Dunbar Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
alone. After this break through Chesney rarely relinquished his position as a first choice selection other than through injury, such as the serious cruciate and medial knee ligament damage during the 2000-01 season.
One of Chesney's key strengths has been the speed he can generate for his size, which was clearly an asset that was considered in his selection to play in the England Sevens
England national rugby union team (sevens)
The English national rugby union sevens team compete in the World Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-Honours:* 1973 International Seven-A-Side Tournament - Winners* Rugby World Cup Sevens Winners 1993* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 2002* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 2003*...
team. He has been timed at 11.2 seconds over 100 metres, and demonstrated this speed in scoring a try against the Newcastle Falcons
Newcastle Falcons
The Newcastle Falcons is an English rugby union team currently playing in the Aviva Premiership. The club was established in 1877 and played under the name of Gosforth Football Club until 1990. The name was then changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in...
which brought him the award of Try of the Season for the 2004-05 season.
Along with Richard Hill
Richard Hill (flanker)
Richard Hill MBE is a former rugby union footballer who played flanker for Saracens and England.Often portrayed as the 'silent assassin' at both club and international level, his effective and abrasive style of forward play has made him legendary in rugby union circles...
and Kevin Sorrell
Kevin Sorrell
Kevin James Sorrell is a rugby union footballer who plays at centre for Saracens.After announcing his retirement after the 09/10 season, he took up an offer to coach Saracens academy with Mosese Rauluni.-External links:*...
he forms part of a triumvirate that has been with the club through the entire professional era and still justified 33 appearances in the 2006-07 season. In the 2007-08 Guinness Premiership
2007-08 Guinness Premiership
The 2007–08 Guinness Premiership was the 21st season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions, played between September 2007 and May 2008. Due to the 2007 Rugby World Cup the season started slightly later than normal, as England were trying to defend their title...
season Chesney passed the milestone of 300 appearances for Saracens in all competition and 150 appearances in the English Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
.
Toulon 2009-
In 2009 Chesney decided to move to French club RC Toulon. On the 24th of March 2011 a move to Sale SharksSale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
broke down due to Chesney's desire to stay and finish his career with Toulon
RC Toulonnais
RC Toulonnais is a French professional rugby union club based in Toulon in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
.