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Theo Dan

Theo Dan
Full nameTheodor Dan
Date of birth (2000-12-26) 26 December 2000 (age 23)
Place of birthLondon, England
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Weight105 kg (231 lb; 16 st 7 lb)[1]
SchoolAlleyn's School
UniversityKing's College London
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Current team Saracens
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019– Saracens 34 (60)
2019–2020 → Bishop's Stortford (loan) 9 (0)
2021–2022 → Ampthill (loan) 10 (25)
Correct as of 25 March 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019 England U18 1 (0)
2020 England U20 5 (10)
2023– England 12 (15)
Correct as of 25 March 2024
Medal record
Men's Rugby union
Representing  England
Rugby World Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2023 France Squad

Theodor Dan (born 26 December 2000) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Premiership Rugby club Saracens and the England national team.

Early life

Dan was born in London, England on Boxing Day 2000, to Romanian parents Octavian and Diana.[2] Growing up in Herne Hill – interspersed with visits to Bucharest and Târgu Jiu – he began his rugby journey when he was five years old, playing for Blackheath until the age of seventeen.[3] He was educated at Alleyn's School and currently studies at King's College London for a bachelor's degree in philosophy, politics and economics.[4]

During his youth, Dan played as a centre and wing, before being recruited into the academy at Saracens as a teenager. He credits his late grandfather Ion Dijmarescu, a professor of engineering who played as a tighthead prop in the Romanian first division, for instilling his love of the sport.[5]

Club career

Dan joined the Saracens junior academy in 2017, aged sixteen. While representing the club's U16s team at the Wellington Festival, he was persuaded to convert to hooker by Saracens academy coach and ex-player Kelly Brown. His transition to the front-row began with an apprenticeship loan spell at Old Alleynians.[2] Dan describes Saracens first-team hooker and British & Irish Lions international Jamie George as a key mentor.[3]

Dan represented the club in the Under-18 Academy League, before signing his first Saracens contract and graduating into the senior academy in June 2019.[6] During his development, he spent time on loan at Bishop's Stortford in National League 1, the third tier of English rugby, playing under the tutelage of former Bath, Newcastle and Northampton player Andy Long.[3]

In November 2021, Dan made his Saracens first-team debut in a victory over Harlequins in the pool stages of the 2021–22 Premiership Rugby Cup, and featured regularly in the Premiership Rugby Cup campaign, sometimes playing as a flanker.[7] He was also dual-registered with Ampthill during the season and made several appearances for the club in the Championship, scoring one try[8] His Premiership debut for Saracens followed at the end of the 2021–22 Premiership regular season, against Gloucester.[7] Subsequently, Dan was promoted into the Saracens first-team squad ahead of the 2022–23 season.[9]

After starting the 2022–23 season on loan at Ampthill, injuries saw Dan recalled to the Saracens first-team. Following his first Premiership start in October 2022, he enjoyed a breakthrough season, earning the most league starts at hooker for the club, and scoring five tries – the most of any Saracens forward that season.[2] This culminated in Dan winning his first Premiership title on 27 May 2023, helping Saracens to victory in the final against Sale Sharks, as he played for 70 minutes after entering the match as an early replacement.[10]

His name made the announcement of the 17 players awarded Elite Player Squad (EPS) deals on the Rugby Football Union deals.[11]

International career

Dan is qualified to represent both England and Romania at international level.[3] He has played for the England U18s, making his debut against France in March 2019.[6] A year later, he scored two tries in four appearances for the England U20s during the abridged 2020 Six Nations.[8]

On 30 June 2023, Dan received his first senior international call-up, when England head coach Steve Borthwick named him in the country's 41-man training squad, in preparation for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.[12] On 5 August Dan made his Test debut coming on as a second-half substitute in a warm-up defeat to Wales at the Millennium Stadium.[13] Two days later he was included in the squad for the World Cup.[14]

Career statistics

List of international tries

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 23 September 2023 Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille, France  Chile 10–0 71–0 2023 Rugby World Cup
2 36–0
3 27 October 2023 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France  Argentina 21–17 26–23 2023 Rugby World Cup

as of 23 September 2023[15]

References

  1. ^ a b "Theo Dan player profile". rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Morgan, Charlie (10 May 2023). "Theo Dan: Romania want me, but playing for England is my dream". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d "Young Guns: Saracens hooker Theo Dan". The Rugby Paper. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Theodor Dan". King's College London. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Theodore Dan". England Rugby. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Theodore Dan". Saracens. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Theo DAN: profile and stats". All.Rugby. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Theo DAN - Player statistics". It's Rugby. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  9. ^ "Saracens Men confirm 22/23 First Team Squad". Saracens. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  10. ^ Hurcom, Sophie (27 May 2023). "Premiership final: Saracens 35-25 Sale - Sarries win sixth title in Twickenham thriller". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  11. ^ "England boss names 17 players awarded first enhanced Elite Player Squad deals". The Irish News. 25 October 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  12. ^ Baldock, Andrew (30 June 2023). "England name uncapped Saracens hooker Theo Dan in World Cup training squad". The Independent. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  13. ^ Griffiths, Gareth (5 August 2023). "Wales 20-9 England: Warren Gatland's side defeat disappointing England in warm-up". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  14. ^ "England World Cup squad: Henry Slade & Alex Dombrandt miss out, Joe Marchant & Theo Dan in". BBC Sport. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Theo DAN profile and stats". all.rugby. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
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