Stuart Abbott
Encyclopedia
Stuart Abbott MBE
(born 3 June 1978) is a South Africa
n born rugby union
footballer who played centre for London Wasps and England
. On 24 October 2007 Abbott announced his immediate retirement due to a shoulder
injury.
Abbott was born in Cape Town
, South Africa
. His mother was English. He was educated at Western Province Prep
School and Diocesan College
, which is commonly known as Bishops', where he says he was caned
. Springbok
centre Robbie Fleck
, and Selborne Boome
went to the same school. He took a degree in economics at Stellenbosch University
and played for the Northern Free State Griffons
in the Currie Cup
. He later played for Western Province
and South Africa U23
During the 1999 World Cup, Abbott signed for English
club Leicester Tigers
, who had lost several players to international duty, and made two appearances, on the recommendation of former Tigers and Springbok
fly-half Joel Stransky
.
In 2001 he played for the South Africa
n Super 12 side Stormers. In November 2001 Abbott was signed by English club Wasps
. He rocketed to prominence in 2002-2003 as a prime force in the team that won the Zurich Premiership, he repeated this for 2003-2004 when the club reached the finals of both the Heineken Cup
and the end-of-season Zurich Premiership playoffs. He formed an exciting centre partnership with Fraser Waters.
He turned down an approach from South Africa coach Rudolph Straeuli
prior to the World Cup but decided to play for England. Stuart Abbott scored on his England debut when he scored one of the five tries in England’s 43-9 Rugby World Cup warm up match with Wales
at the Millennium Stadium
in August 2003. After impressing again in a pre-World Cup trial against France
two weeks later, was selected in England's World Cup squad.
In 2003, he appeared in three Rugby World Cup games, adding a second try in the runaway win over Uruguay
. England went on to win the World Cup and with his team-mates Abbott was appointed an MBE
in the 2004 New Year's honours. He missed out on the 2004 Six Nations Championship through injury but showed his class for his club, earning his call up for the 2004 summer tour. He struggled with injuries after the World Cup and broke his leg in 2005 in a Heineken Cup game between Wasps and Biarritz.
He enjoyed a very successful period at London Wasps
winning the Heineken Cup
, Zurich Premiership and in his last season there, the Powergen Cup.
In 2006, Abbott joined the newly promoted Harlequins
for the 2006-07 season, but only made 17 appearances for them before his injury-enforced retirement.
In May 2008 Abbott was announced Backs Coach at Rosslyn Park FC, who finished second in the 2008/2009 season.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 3 June 1978) is a South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n born rugby union
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 played centre for London Wasps and England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
. On 24 October 2007 Abbott announced his immediate retirement due to a shoulder
Shoulder
The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle , the scapula , and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The major joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint, which...
injury.
Abbott was born in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. His mother was English. He was educated at Western Province Prep
Western Province Prep
Western Province Preparatory School is an independent preparatory school for boys in Cape Town, South Africa.- History :...
School and Diocesan College
Diocesan College
The Diocesan College, or Bishops as it is more commonly known, is an independent, all-boys school situated in the suburb of Rondebosch in Cape Town, South Africa...
, which is commonly known as Bishops', where he says he was caned
Caning
Caning is a form of corporal punishment consisting of a number of hits with a single cane usually made of rattan, generally applied to the offender's bare or clothed buttocks or hand . Application of a cane to the knuckles or the shoulders has been much less common...
. Springbok
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
centre Robbie Fleck
Robbie Fleck
Robert Frank Fleck better known as Robbie is a former rugby union footballer who played at centre for South Africa....
, and Selborne Boome
Selborne Boome
Selborne Boome is a rugby union player who has made 20 appearances for the South African national rugby union team, the Springboks. He also played for Northampton Saints and the provincial team, the Stormers.- External links :...
went to the same school. He took a degree in economics at Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University is a public research university situated in the town of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Other nearby universities are the University of Cape Town and University of the Western Cape....
and played for the Northern Free State Griffons
Griffons (rugby team)
The Griffons, currently referred to as the Tasol Solar Griffons for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament...
in the Currie Cup
Currie Cup
The Currie Cup tournament is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, played each winter and spring , featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces...
. He later played for Western Province
Western Province (rugby team)
DHL Western Province is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. The team has won the Currie Cup on 32 occasions and has the most supporters of any Currie Cup team...
and South Africa U23
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
During the 1999 World Cup, Abbott signed for English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
club Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010...
, who had lost several players to international duty, and made two appearances, on the recommendation of former Tigers and Springbok
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
fly-half Joel Stransky
Joel Stransky
Joel Theodore Stransky is a former South African rugby union rugby player, most notable for scoring all of South Africa's points, including the famous dramatic winning drop goal, against New Zealand in the 1995 Rugby World Cup final. He played as a fly-half.-Early life:Stransky was born in...
.
In 2001 he played for the South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n Super 12 side Stormers. In November 2001 Abbott was signed by English club 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...
. He rocketed to prominence in 2002-2003 as a prime force in the team that won the Zurich Premiership, he repeated this for 2003-2004 when the club reached the finals of both the Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
and the end-of-season Zurich Premiership playoffs. He formed an exciting centre partnership with Fraser Waters.
He turned down an approach from South Africa coach Rudolph Straeuli
Rudolph Straeuli
Rudolph August Wilkens Straeuli played rugby union in the positions of flanker and Number 8 for, and later coached, the Springboks rugby team. He also played for the Lions provincial team in the Currie Cup competition...
prior to the World Cup but decided to play for England. Stuart Abbott scored on his England debut when he scored one of the five tries in England’s 43-9 Rugby World Cup warm up match with Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
in August 2003. After impressing again in a pre-World Cup trial against France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
two weeks later, was selected in England's World Cup squad.
In 2003, he appeared in three Rugby World Cup games, adding a second try in the runaway win over Uruguay
Unión de Rugby del Uruguay
The Uruguayan Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Uruguay.-Foundation and affiliation:It was founded in 1951 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1989.They have been represented in the 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cups....
. England went on to win the World Cup and with his team-mates Abbott was appointed an MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in the 2004 New Year's honours. He missed out on the 2004 Six Nations Championship through injury but showed his class for his club, earning his call up for the 2004 summer tour. He struggled with injuries after the World Cup and broke his leg in 2005 in a Heineken Cup game between Wasps and Biarritz.
He enjoyed a very successful period at 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...
winning the Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
, Zurich Premiership and in his last season there, the Powergen Cup.
In 2006, Abbott joined the newly promoted 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...
for the 2006-07 season, but only made 17 appearances for them before his injury-enforced retirement.
In May 2008 Abbott was announced Backs Coach at Rosslyn Park FC, who finished second in the 2008/2009 season.