Tom Pearson (rugby union, born 1999)

Tom Pearson (born 26 October 1999) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for Premiership Rugby club Northampton Saints and the England national team.

Early life
Pearson began playing rugby at six years old at his local rugby club in Bromyard, Herefordshire, before going on to play for Luctonians, also in Herefordshire. He attended Moor Park Prep, Dean Close School and Cardiff Metropolitan University where he represented the first team. Pearson played 42 times for the university across both the local Welsh league and the BUCS Super Rugby competition.

Club career
Pearson had been a member of the Gloucester academy but was released as a teenager. He signed for London Irish on 21 June 2021. He made his senior club debut away to Exeter Chiefs on 23 October 2021 and was named Player of the Match in an Irish win.

On 8 February 2022 Pearson was called up by coach Eddie Jones to train with during the 2022 Six Nations Championship. Pearson scored his first try for Irish as they beat Bristol Bears on 11 February 2022. In the 2022–23 season Pearson was named as both Premiership Rugby's Breakthrough player of the year and as the Rugby Players' Association's young player of the season.

In June 2023 London Irish encountered financial issues and it was announced that Pearson would join Northampton Saints for the 2023–24 season. Later that month he was selected by England coach Steve Borthwick for a training camp preparing for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. On 5 August Pearson made his Test debut starting in a warm-up defeat against Wales. So far he has been a solid player for the Saints and has made his mark on the 2023-24 season.

Personal life
Pearson attended a boarding school in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire from Year nine with his twin brother Will Pearson, who also played for Luctonians. He was in Tower House and also played 1XI Cricket.