Tommaso Allan (/ˈælən/; born 26 April 1993) is an Italian professional rugby union player who primarily plays fly-half for Perpignan of the French Top 14. He has also represented Italy at international level, having made his test debut against Australia during the 2013 Autumn Internationals. Allan has previously played for Harlequins and Benetton, as well as an earlier stint at Perpignan.[2][3][4]
 Allan during a Six Nations event, March 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 26 April 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Vicenza, Italy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 184 cm (6 ft 0 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 87 kg (192 lb; 13 st 10 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe, European School, Culham | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | John Allan (uncle) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early life & youth rugby
editAllan was part of the London Wasps Academy in 2011 before captaining the RGS High Wycombe rugby side. He won the Under-19 Provincial Championship while playing for Western Province in South Africa and at the end of his contract there, he joined Perpignan.
Club career
editAllan signed for French Top 14 side Perpignan shortly before the 2013–14 season. Allan made his debut for Perpignan on 8 September 2013 against Racing Métro at Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir in the Hauts-de-Seine, Paris. Perpignan lost 19–16,[5] with Allan kicking one conversion (56th minute) and kicking three penalties (3rd minute, 26th minute, 68th minute).
Because of Allan's end-of-year performances, he was called up to the national team. Allan played a total of eight games in the Top 14 and four in the Heineken Cup in his debut season for Perpignan, scoring a total of 27 points in 12 appearances for the side. Perpignan were relegated to the Pro D2 after finishing 13th out of the 14 teams.
In the 2014–15 Pro D2 season, Allan cemented a firm position on the number 10 role for Perpignan. Playing eighteen games, scoring three tries, fourteen penalty goals, scoring a total of 81 points and helping Perpignan to reach promotional play-offs.
Allan returned to his home region of Veneto, Italy, signing for Benetton Treviso before the 2016–17 Pro12 until 2020–21 Pro14 season.[6][7]
It was announced on 5 May 2021, that Allan had been signed by the English Premiership team Harlequins, to begin his career with them ahead of the 2021/22 season.[3]
International career
editOn 9 October 2013 Allan was named in the Italian 35-man training squad for the 2013 end-of-year rugby union tests,[8] which led to the Scottish Rugby Union seeking clarity on Allan's intentions for his future.[9] Despite Allan playing for Scotland at Under 17, Under 18 and Under 20 age groups, he was named in Jacques Brunel's final squad.[10] He made his debut coming off the bench to score against Australia.
Allan started the first three of Italy's 2014 Six Nations matches against Wales, France and Scotland.[11]
On 24 August 2015, he was named in the final 31-man squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup[12] and on 18 August 2019, he was named in the final 31-man squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[13]
On 22 August 2023, he was named in the Italy's 33-man squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.[14] On 4 February 2024, he became the best Italian points and try scorer in the Six Nations Championship, surpassing Diego Domínguez (rugby union)[15]
Personal life
editAllan hails from a rugby family; his Scottish father William Allan and his Italian mother Paola Berlato both played in Italy, while his uncle John Allan earned 9 caps for Scotland and 13 for South Africa.[16] Through his father he was eligible to represent Scotland, but chose to play for Italy at senior level. He went to the European School in Culham, then graduated in economy in London to eventually get a master in marketing and business in Italy.
Statistics
editList of international test tries
editAs of 3 February 2024[17]
References
edit- ^ a b "Tommaso Allan player profile". rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
- ^ "Tommy Allan: 'Unusual' Italy fly-half charts voyage of discovery". BBC Sport. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
- ^ a b "Harlequins sign Tommaso Allan". Harlequins. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ "Italy flyhalf Tommy Allan signs for Perpignan". amp.rugbypass.com. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ "Racing Métro – Perpignan". Top 14 (in French). 8 September 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ "Dopo Cinque Stagioni Tommaso Allan Passa Agli Harlequins". 5 May 2021.
- ^ "Il Benetton Rugby saluta 10 Leoni e 4 componenti dello staff". Benetton Rugby (in Italian). 30 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ "Italy call-up Scotland U-20 fly-half". ESPN. 9 October 2013.
- ^ "Scotland seek clarity on Tommaso Allan after Italy call-up". BBC Sport. 9 October 2013.
- ^ "Italia, geldenhuys rientra in gruppo in vista dei cariparma test match". Italian Rugby Federation (in Italian). 19 October 2013.
- ^ "Scotland leave it late to beat Italy in Rome with Weir drop goal". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
- ^ Rugby World Cup, Scelti i 31 Azzurri per Inghilterra 2015
- ^ "Italrugby, Conor O'shea Annuncia I 31 Giocatori Convocati per Il Mondiale".
- ^ "ITALIA, I 33 AZZURRI PER LA RUGBY WORLD CUP "FRANCIA 2023". Federazione Italiana Rugby (in Italian). 22 August 2023.
- ^ "England come from behind to edge out Italy in Rome". BBC Sport.
- ^ Tommaso Allan SRU Profile Archived 21 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Tommaso Allan". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
External links
edit- Tommaso Allan at Premiership Rugby
- Tommaso Allan at ESPNscrum
- Tommaso Allan at ItsRugby.co.uk
