Kyle Sinckler

Early career

Sinckler was born in Wandsworth, London, and began playing rugby from the age of eight. Sinckler states that it was his mother, Donna, who instigated his rugby career. According to Sinckler, he was a keen football player but his physical nature meant that it wasn't the game for him. After Donna became aware of Kyle's physicality on the football pitch, she brought him to Battersea Ironsides RFC in Earlsfield, a vibrant growing kids rugby club, where his passion for rugby was born. Sinckler attended Graveney School, Tooting, a non-rugby-playing school, followed by Epsom College until the age of 18. Sinckler began his Harlequins career when Academy coach Collin Osborne saw him, aged 12, playing at one of his various positions, this time full back, for Battersea Ironsides where his talent was immediately spotted.

Harlequins

Sinckler graduated from the Harlequins Academy squad after playing his first game for the club in their 42–6 thrashing over Gloucester in round 2 of the 2011–12 Aviva Premiership. Although, he only appeared for the last 5 minutes of the game. Sinckler only went on to play one more game for the Harlequins in that same season, coming off the bench against Sale Sharks during their 37–25 victory in the 2011–12 LV Cup. During this season, Kyle was sent to Richmond on loan, where he helped them to promotion to National League One.

Sinckler then spent the whole of the following season, playing at Harlequins where he only went on to make 7 appearances, all of which were from the bench. He played in various competitions, and made his Heineken Cup debut against Zebre, where Harlequins went on to win 53–5. Sinckler highly contributed to their 2012–13 LV Cup winning campaign, playing in four out of the six games, including the semi-final against Bath.

Sinckler was sent to Ealing Trailfinders at the beginning of the 2013-14 Season, which was a short stint as he was recalled back to the Harlequins. Sinckler made his way into the match-day team, when Paul Doran-Jones sustained an injury early on in the season. He made his first appearance for the season during Harlequins 37-13 victory over Worcester Warriors. However, Sinckler did have to wait until mid-February to gain his first start for the team, which occurred against Gloucester in Round 15, a game Harlequins lost 25–20. A week later, Sinckler went on to play his first full game for the club, which Harlequins narrowly won, beating Worcester Warriors 21-20. In the same season, Kyle would go on to prove himself very capable, making 3 European appearances and playing a total of 22 games for the club, over double the games he had played for Harlequins previously. Sinckler even went on to start in Harlequins semi-final playoff game against Saracens, where Saracens won 31–17.

International career

Kyle Sinckler has represented England at U16, U18, U19 and U20 levels. Sinckler was named in the England Under 20's Elite Player Squad for the 2011/12 season. In his first season playing for the Under 20's team, he played ten times, across the Six Nations Under 20s Championship and 2012 IRB Junior World Championship. He was reinstated into the Elite Player Squad for the 2012/13 season, playing in just three matches in the 2013 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, due to his commitments with Harlequins.

His form across the 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons, landed Sinckler a place in the English national side for the uncapped annual fixture against the Barbarians. He was named in the starting XV for England XV, in which England lost 39–29. After his performance against the Barbarians, Sinckler was picked over Will Collier to go on tour with the rest of the England Squad.

Sinckler was called up to the senior England squad again by coach Eddie Jones on 8 May 2016 for a three-day training squad. He made his debut for England national team on 12 November 2016, coming on for Dan Cole for the last 10 minutes against South Africa.

On 19 April 2017 Sinckler was included in the list of players selected for the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in June and July.