![]() Peel playing for the Barbarians in May 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Birth name | Dwayne John Peel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 31 August 1981 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Carmarthen, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 87 kg (13 st 10 lb; 192 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Ysgol Gyfun Maes-yr-Yrfa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | Swansea University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dwayne John Peel (born 31 August 1981) is a Welsh rugby union coach and former player. He was the most capped scrum-half for the Wales national rugby union team with 76 caps,[2] until his record was surpassed by Mike Phillips on 16 March 2013.
Youth and early career
Peel was born in Carmarthen, Wales.[3] He started his rugby career playing for Tumble RFC at Under-8s level. He attended Ysgol Gyfun Maes-yr-Yrfa in Cefneithin, and is a fluent Welsh speaker.[4] He made his professional club debut for Llanelli RFC before joining the Llanelli Scarlets region at its creation in 2003.
International
Peel made his international debut for Wales in 2001 against Japan. He was still on his geography degree course at the Swansea University at the time. During his time at Swansea University, he became friends with Edward Lewsey – a Welsh Under-21 international, and brother of England international Josh Lewsey. Peel has since scored five tries (25 points) scoring his debut Test try against Italy in 2003 for Wales.
In 2005, Peel was selected for the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, and was the youngest Lion on the tour.[5] In February 2007, Peel became the youngest player to reach 50 caps for Wales when he played in the second match of their Six Nations campaign against Scotland.[6] On 9 September 2007, Peel was captain for Wales when they beat Canada 42–17 in their opening match in the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
On 15 January 2008, it was announced by the Scarlets that Peel would be joining Sale Sharks at the end of the 2007–08 season.[7] Peel joined at the start of the 2008–09 season on a three-year contract.[8][9]
New Wales coach Warren Gatland stated that Peel would be an exception to his desired policy to select players from those playing for Welsh clubs,[10] but injuries to his shoulder and ankle kept him out of Wales' 2008 Six Nations opener against England.[11] He returned to the squad for the game against Scotland the following week,[12] coming on for Mike Phillips in the second half, before being named in the starting line-up for the third match against Italy alongside Scarlets half-back partner Stephen Jones.[13] Phillips returned to the starting XV for the final two matches, with Peel deputising from the bench as Wales went on to complete a second Grand Slam in four seasons.
on 19 January 2009, it was announced that Peel would not be part of the Wales squad for the 2009 Six Nations Championship.[14] Peel was subsequently called into the squad, however, as cover for injured Gareth Cooper and on 8 February 2009, he played in the second half of Wales' opening match against Scotland.[15]
In the 2012-2013 Premiership season, Peel was involved in the 32-9 win on 12 April against Gloucester, scoring two tries.[16] He was also named in the Barbarians squad for the 2013 summer internationals, to play against England and the British & Irish Lions.
Peel then signed for Bristol Rugby for the 2014–15 season, being appointed club captain in a team that also included fellow Wales internationals Ryan Jones and Ian Evans.
International tries
Try | Opponent | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Rome, Italy | Stadio Olimpico | 2003 Six Nations | 15 February 2003 | Loss |
2 | ![]() |
Tucumán, Argentina | Cancha del Atletico | 2004 Summer internationals | 12 June 2004 | Loss |
3 | ![]() |
Pretoria, South Africa | Loftus Versfeld Stadium | 2004 Summer internationals | 26 June 2004 | Loss |
4 | ![]() |
Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 2004 Autumn internationals | 6 November 2004 | Loss |
5 | ![]() |
Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 2006 Autumn internationals | 17 November 2006 | Win |
Coaching
On 15 February 2017, Ulster announced Peel would join them as assistant coach from the start of the 2017–18 season on a two-year contract.[18]
Peel was due to join the Cardiff Blues for the 2021–22 season as senior assistant coach responsible for attack.[19] However, Peel joined the Scarlets as head coach for the 2021–22 season instead.[20]
References
- ^ "Aviva Premiership Rugby - Sale Sharks". Premier Rugby. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ "Squad Profiles: Wales Senior Player Archive, Dwayne Peel". wru.wales. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
- ^ "Welsh Rugby Union : Wales : Squad Profiles : Wales Players : Searchable". www.wru.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 May 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ Wales Online Archived December 1, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Rees, Paul (7 February 2008). "Phillips bullish about hanging on to Wales No9 shirt after seizing his chance". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 10 May 2008.
- ^ "Proud Peel set for 50th Wales cap". BBC Sport. 9 February 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "Peel agrees to shock Sale switch". BBC Sport. 15 January 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
- ^ "Sale Sharks finalise Peel signing". BBC Sport. 15 February 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
- ^ "Sale seal Peel deal". Sky Sports. 15 February 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
- ^ "Peel's Wales place safe – Gatland". BBC Sport. 15 January 2008. Retrieved 16 January 2008.
- ^ "Ospreys dominate Wales selection". BBC Sport. 29 January 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- ^ "Wales coach makes three changes". BBC Sport. 5 February 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ "Jones and Peel earn Wales start". BBC Sport. 12 February 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ "Wales omit Peel for Six Nations". BBC Sport. 19 January 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
- ^ "Wales call up Dwayne Peel for Six Nations". Telegraph. 8 February 2009. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
- ^ "Sale Sharks 32 Gloucester 9". Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- ^ "Rugby Union - ESPN Scrum - Statsguru - Player analysis - Dwayne Peel - Test matches".
- ^ "Former Wales scrum-half Dwayne Peel joins Ulsters' backroom coaching staff". BBC Sport. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
- ^ "Dwayne Peel to join Cardiff Blues as Senior Assistant Coach". Cardiff Blues. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ "Dwayne Peel: Former Wales scrum-half to take charge of Scarlets next season". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
External links
- profile at WRU.co.uk