Quick Facts
Taurus
Biography
Will Skelton (born 3 May 1992) is an Australian rugby union footballer of Samoan descent.He currently plays for the Waratahs in the Super Rugby competition, and his regular playing position is lock. On 6 December 2016 it was announced that Skelton would be joining Saracens RFC on a short-term contract, agreement having been reached between Waratahs and Saracens.
Family and early life
Skelton was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and moved with his family to Sydney at the age of 10. He is the cousin of former All Black lock Brad Mika. and is the older brother of Cameron Skelton. Though smaller than his younger brother, Skelton weighed 150 kg while still a teenager (his playing weight is now 140 kg or under), and he wears a size 18 to 19 (UK) boot.
He played junior rugby league for the Wentworthville Magpies before taking up rugby union at age 15 at The Hills Sports High School in Seven Hills.
Skelton joined the Sydney University rugby club in 2010. In 2011, he was invited into the Waratahs Academy and the ARU's National Academy in Sydney. After a promising first year, a fractured foot sustained in February 2012 prevented him from playing for the remainder of the year.
Rugby career
In March 2013, Skelton was signed to the Waratahs' Extended Player Squad by coach Michael Cheika. He made his Super Rugby debut against the Stormers, and was selected to play for the Waratahs against the British and Irish Lions in June of that year.
In 2014, Skelton was approached by Graham Henry to join the Blues in Auckland, but turned him down. He was named in the Wallabies squad for the June tests in 2014.
Skelton made his test debut for Australia against France on 21 June 2014, starting as the right lock and scoring the first try for the Wallabies in their 39–13 win. His offload game has been compared to Auckland-born rugby footballer Sonny Bill Williams.
The Waratahs made the Super Rugby semi-finals in 2015. Skelton was included in the Wallabies squad for The Rugby Championship and he started against the Springboks in the 24-20 win at Suncorp Stadium.
Skelton's inclusion in the Wallabies squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup was cut short after he sustained a shoulder injury during the tournament.