Dickens, Tom

DOB: 16/06/1986

Height: 5ft 8in

Weight: 12st 5lbs

Honours: Celtic Warriors Academy, Crawshays, Wales Youth, Wales U18, Wales FIRA U19, Great Britain Universities Sevens

Tom Dickens is sponsored by Peter & Ellen Mann

Biography: Cardiff born, Thomas John Dickens represented Rumney RFC and the Blue and Blacks at junior level, gaining recognition with Cardiff Schools in the under 15 and under 16 age groups.

At only sixteen years of age, Tom moved up to the Pontypridd Academy in 2002, his blossoming rugby career further advanced as international honours were gained with Wales Schools and Wales Youth, for whom he formed an effective half back partnership with club colleague Tom Riley.

Progressing to the Warriors regional Academy, where he was coached by Justin Burnell and Clive Jones, he was then selected to tour South Africa with the Young Warriors in the summer of 2004.

Having spent a season gaining valuable experience with Rumney in the first division, Tom was drafted into the Pontypridd senior squad at the commencement of the 2005 / 2006 season. Whilst representing Ponty in the Welsh Premiership, Tom also made appearances for Hartpury College, where he had enlisted as a student.

During his education at Hartpury, Tom excelled enough to be called up to the Great Britain Universities Sevens squad, where he made an enormous impression upon his peers and the press.

In late 2006, Tom departed Pontypridd, having found it difficult making the journey to and from his Gloucester base to Sardis Road.

Pontypridd were fortunate, however, to welcome Tom back to the fold in the 2007 season.