Tom Parsons (rugby union)

Tom Parsons
Full nameThomas Ian Parsons
Date of birth (1990-06-25) 25 June 1990 (age 34)
Place of birthTakapau, New Zealand
Height1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight113 kg (17 st 11 lb; 249 lb)
SchoolLindisfarne College
Notable relative(s)James Parsons (cousin)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Hawke's Bay, Urayasu D-Rocks
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2014, 2018– Hawke's Bay 95 (65)
2015–2017 Manawatu 29 (0)
2020 Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo 4 (0)
2022 Hurricanes 2 (0)
2024– Urayasu D-Rocks 3 (0)
Correct as of 13 October 2024

Tom Parsons (born 25 June 1990) is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a lock for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition[1] and Urayasu D-Rocks in Japan Rugby League One.[2]

Early career and personal life

Parsons attended Lindisfarne College (2004-2008) and is a former player and captain of the college's 1st XV team. He is the son of former Hawke's Bay loose forward Rod Parsons (1988-1989, 18 games). His brother Ben Parsons also played 3 games at lock for the Magpies in 2017.[3][4] Former All Blacks and Blues hooker James Parsons is his cousin.

Senior career

Parsons was – for the first time – named in the Hawke's Bay squad ahead of the 2012 ITM Cup season.[5] He made his NPC debut for the Magpies on 21 September 2012, via the reserves bench, in a tight 42–41 win over Bay of Plenty.[6] In his first three seasons, he played 15 games for the province.

In 2015, Parsons signed with Manawatu.[7] He debuted for the Turbos on 16 August 2015 against Counties Manukau.[8] He played 29 games for Manawatū in three seasons.

Parsons returned to Hawke's Bay and was named in the Magpies squad for the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup season.[9] That season turned out to become his breakout season, in which he became a regular starter for Hawke's Bay. On 23 October 2018, Parsons won the Magpies Player of the Year award and Forward of the Year award at the team's end-of-season awards function.[10]

On 27 November 2019, Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus announced the signing of Parsons on a six-month contract for their 2020 Top League season.[11][3] He made his debut for the club on 18 January 2020 in a game against NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes. He played only four games for the side because the 2020 Top League season was cancelled after round 6 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12][13]

He returned to Hawke's Bay for the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup season, which turned out to be a successful one. The Magpies won the Ranfurly Shield,[14] successfully defended the Shield three times and won the Mitre 10 Cup Championship, thus securing a well-deserved promotion to the Premiership division.[15] The Magpies held on to the Shield during the entire 2021 Bunnings NPC season, winning all six Ranfurly Shield defences.[16] Parsons captained the team in the last few rounds of the season, after long-term captain Ash Dixon had left to play in Japan.

Over the years, Parsons turned out for the Hurricanes Development team on a regular basis,[17][18] but despite several strong seasons for Hawke's Bay, he wasn't offered a Super Rugby contract. During the 2021 Super Rugby season, he was called into the Highlanders squad as short-term injury cover, but didn't get any game time.[19]

While not being named in the initial Hurricanes squad for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season, Parsons was eventually offered a contract and joined the franchise during preseason.[20] He made his Super Rugby debut for the Hurricanes – off the bench – on 25 March 2022 against Moana Pasifika.[21] His starting debut followed in the return game against Moana Pasifika on 12 April 2022.[22]

On 15 February 2024, Japan Rugby League One (Division 2) club Urayasu D-Rocks announced that Parsons would be joining the club for the remainder of the 2023–2024 season.[23] He played three games for the club, including two victorious promotion-relegation matches against Hanazono Kintetsu Liners that earned the club promotion to Division 1.[24] On 29 August 2024, Parsons was named in the Urayasu D-Rocks squad for the 2024-25 season.[2]

References

  1. ^ @hbmagpies (31 July 2024). "Squad 2024". Retrieved 19 August 2024 – via Instagram.
  2. ^ a b "2024-25シーズン メンバースコッドのお知らせ" [2024–25 Season Squad Announcement]. Urayasu D-Rocks (Press release) (in Japanese). 29 August 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Toshiba lure Tom Parsons to Japan for Top League season". Hawke's Bay Today. 5 November 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Plenty of depth in Magpies Mitre 10 Cup rugby squad". Hawke's Bay App. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  5. ^ "2012 Magpies ITM Cup Squad announced". Hawke's Bay Rugby Union (Press release). 10 August 2012. Archived from the original on 3 November 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  6. ^ "ITM Cup: Win for crowd Magpie catchcry". Hawke's Bay Today. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Tall timber Tom Parsons signs with Manawatu". Stuff NZ. 10 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Preview: Counties Manukau v Manawatu". itmcup.co.nz. 14 August 2015. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  9. ^ "2018 Magpies Squad Announced". Hawke's Bay Rugby Union (Press release). 8 August 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Tom Parsons soars to Hawke's Bay Magpies supreme award". Hawke's Bay Today. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  11. ^ "2019年度新加入選手（追加）の紹介". Toshiba Brave Lupus (Press release) (in Japanese). 27 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Tom Parsons Top League player profile". Top League. 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  13. ^ "Japan Rugby Top League 2020 Notice of Cancellation". Japan Rugby Top League (Press release). 23 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Ranfurly Shield roundabout continues". Provincial Rugby. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Magpies crowned kings of the Championship". Provincial Rugby. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  16. ^ "NPC: Hawke's Bay lock away Ranfurly Shield for summer after seeing off Waikato". Stuff NZ. 23 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  17. ^ "Second run for Hurricanes Development". Hurricanes (Press release). 18 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  18. ^ "Hurricanes Hunters named to face Japan A in Tokyo". Hurricanes (Press release). 19 April 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  19. ^ "In-form Magpie warns of Turbos danger". Hawke's Bay App. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  20. ^ "Rookie Justin Sangster ready for his debut season". Hurricanes (Press release). 17 January 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  21. ^ "Four debutants headline Hurricanes side to take on Moana Pasifika". Hurricanes (Press release). 23 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  22. ^ "Hurricanes team named for Moana Pasifika clash at Sky Stadium". Hurricanes (Press release). 11 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  23. ^ "トム・パーソンズ選手 新加入のお知らせ" [Announcement of new player Tom Parsons]. Urayasu D-Rocks (Press release) (in Japanese). 15 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  24. ^ "Kerevi's D-Rocks beat Cooper's Liners to win promotion to division one". rugbyjp.com. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.