Ethan Waddleton and Tom Emery, former students of St Joseph’s College, Ipswich, are once again taking to the pitch together as part of the England Men’s Sevens team. Ethan and Tom, who left the school in 2015 and 2016 respectively, are reigniting the level of excitement in the school community reached with Lewis Ludlam’s inclusion in the England World Cup squad in October.
Ethan Waddleton, who was attached to Saracens’ Academy and Tom Emery, who until last season was on Northampton Saints’ roster, were both members of the squad that won the St Joseph’s College National Schools Rugby Festival in 2013. Waddleton has been a member of the England Sevens team since 2015/16, making his World Series debut in Wellington. He was part of the England squad that won bronze at the Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast in 2018.
Emery won his first England call-up for the 2019 HSBC London Sevens, where he impressed on his World Series debut at Twickenham, and later became a full-time member of the squad.
Both players were named in the first World Series tournament of the 2019/20 season that took place in Dubai on 5 -7 December. Tom Emery scored in England’s opening match against Spain as the team progressed from the pool stages to the Cup competition on their way to a Bronze place finish. With the next tournament taking place in South Africa on 13 -15 December the whole community here at St Joseph’s College is hoping there will be plenty more cause for celebration as these two exciting players work towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Mr O’Riordan, Director of Sport and Extra-Curricular at St Joseph’s College, said: ‘Ethan and Tom’s selection is clear affirmation of our programme of holistic development of student athletes. We are incredibly proud of them both as they continue to carry the torch for St Joseph’s College on the international stage.
‘Our development programme has been further validated with the announcement this month of Lower Sixth Form student Harry Williams’ inclusion in the Wales Under 18 training squad.’
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