Andy Gomarsall MBE Profile
Updated April 16, 2008
ANDY GOMARSALL MBE
Club: Harlequins
Position: Scrum half
Born: 24.07.74 | Durham
Height:1.78m (5’10“)
Weight: 93kg (14st 10lb)
Representative honours: England 18 Group, U19 Colts, U21s, Students, Emerging Players, A
Caps: 35
Points: 37 – 6T, 2C, 1DG
International Record: 1996 It, Arg 1997 S, I, F, Arg (2R) 2000 It(R) 2002 Arg, SA(R) 2003 F, W(R), W, F(R) World Cup - G(R), U 2004 It, S, NZ(1R,2), A, C, SA, A, 2007 SA (1,2), F (1R, 2R), World Cup - SA(R), Sam, Tg, A, F, SA 2008 W, It
Andy Gomarsall MBE emerged as one of the driving forces behind England’s journey to the RWC 2007 final. After starting the 2008 RBS 8 Nations as Brian Ashton's frst choice scrum half , the emergence of the talented young Sale Shark Richard Wigglesworth mid way though the tournament left Gomarsall without a place the match day 22, thanks to Paul Hodgson's elevation to the bench.
Having arriving at the 2007 RWC tournament below Shaun Perry in the scrum half pecking order, Gomarsall replaced the Bristol player at half time during the pool defeat to South Africa and kept the No 9 shirt for the rest of the tournament.
It marked a remarkable comeback for Andy, twelve months on from feeling he was a pass away from the rugby scrapheap.
Released by Worcester Warriors and with a wife and two-month-old twin girls Olivia and Indianna to support, he kick-started the road to France by appearing for Camberley team the White Hart Marauders at the Harpenden Pub Sevens in August 2006 .
He joined Harlequins – his sixth top flight club – and, with it, gained a new lease of life as the best scrum half game manager in the Guinness Premiership according to his Director of Rugby Dean Richards.
He was rewarded with a recall to the England squad in May 2007 for the South Africa tour following a 31-month absence since his previous cap against Australia in 2004.
Called up on match day for Peter Richards, who was struck by the virus that affected many of the squad, Andy started the first test in Bloemfontein and kept the No 9 shirt for the second in Pretoria.
He was on the bench for the Investec Challenge matches that August, coming on as a replacement bin the first test against France at Twickenam, kicking a dropped goal, and was also used off the bench in the return leg in Marseille.
The 2007 RWC was his third tournament, having been flown out in 1995 as cover for Dewi Morris but he had to wait until the following year to win his first cap against Italy. He missed out on the 1999 RWC but was a member of the 2003 squad, coming on as a replacement against Georgia and starting against Uruguay.
Educated at Bedford School and Oxford Brookes University, he captained England 18 Group to a Grand Slam in 1992, his country’s first at that level for 11 years. He went on to lead England Colts, represented England Under-21s, Students, Emerging Players and England A.
He spent five years at London Wasps, captained Bedford in the 1999-2000 season, and has also had spells at Bath Rugby, Gloucester Rugby and Worcester Warriors before Harlequins.
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Did you know?
Andy has his father Jack to thank for introducing him to rugby with Doncaster minis at the age of six. He has been a member of ten clubs from juniors to seniors and bounced back to top level after a serious back operation early in his career.
If he wasn’t a professional rugby player he would like to be a motor racing driver and is an avid reader of Top Gear Magazine. He is a Tottenham Hotspur fan for no other reason than they won when he watched his first football game on television.
Harlequins Director of Rugby Dean Richards said: ‛Andy has been outstanding since he arrived. He is probably the best communicator of all the scrum halves in the country. He appreciates the opportunity we have given him and his goal was the chance to get back into the England squad.“
