Iwan Stephens
English rugby union player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Iwan Stephens (born 24 March 2002) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for United Rugby Championship club Cardiff.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 24 March 2002[1] Leeds, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 83 kg (13 st 1 lb)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative | Colin Stephens (Father) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Early life
Born in Leeds, Stephens began playing rugby league as an 11 year-old but also played rugby union for his local club Morley and was in the academy of Leeds Tykes until the age of fifteen. He is also a qualified joiner.[3][4]
Career
Newcastle
Stephens left Super League side Leeds Rhinos to join the academy at Newcastle Falcons in September 2020.[5] Stephens scored a try on debut for Newcastle Falcons against Harlequins in September 2021.[6][7] He followed that up with a try in his second match, against Bath Rugby the next weekend and was named in the Rugby Premiership team of the week.[8] In April 2022, he signed a new two-year contract with Newcastle Falcons.[9][10]
Cardiff
In May 2024 it was announced that Stephens would join Cardiff Rugby for the 2024–25 United Rugby Championship.[7]
Stephens was named as Man of the Match on 26 October 2024, as Cardiff came back to beat Ulster, having been 0–19 down at half time, with Stephens scoring a try during the match.[11]
International career
Rugby League
Qualified to play for England or Wales, Stephens is a former England Academy rugby league international, and once scored a try and six goals in England Academy's 62-0 win over Wales in Llanelli.[12]
England U20
Stephens went on to represent the England U20 rugby union team, playing for the first time in March 2022 during the 2022 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[13] Later that year in July 2022 he scored his first try for England U20 in a 37-36 defeat against Ireland.[14]
Personal life
Stephens is the son of Welsh former rugby international Colin Stephens who after his rugby career became head of rugby at Leeds Beckett University.[15][16]