Plymouth Albion player profiles 2012

JACK ANDREW

BORN: 06/12/90

POSITION: Prop

HEIGHT: 6ft 4ins

WEIGHT: 20st

FORMER CLUBS: Launceston (loan), Exeter Chiefs

HONOURS: Cornwall, South West Academies U16 and U19

ALBION DEBUT:25/09/11 against Bristol

ANDREW is in his second season at Albion having joined the club last summer. Finished last year strongly.

BEVON ARMITAGE

BORN: 05/08/82

POSITION: Centre

HEIGHT: 6ft 1in

WEIGHT: 15st 4lb

FORMER CLUBS: Moseley, Nice, Doncaster, Esher

HONOURS: England Counties, Devon

ALBION DEBUT:03/09/11 against Esher

VASTLY experienced Championship campaigner Armitage was the only Albion player to start all the club's league matches last season. Will be hoping to continue in his role as one of the club's key players

JACK ARNOTT

BORN: 02/09/93

POSITION: Wing

HEIGHT: 5ft 11ins

WEIGHT: 12st 8ins

FORMER CLUBS: Exeter DR

HONOURS: England U16s, 18s and 19s

ALBION DEBUT:18/02/12 against Nottingham

THE young city-born back signed a professional contract with Exeter in the summer but they have allowed him to continue to be dual registered with Albion this season. Will be hoping to build on the three appearances he made last year while still at school.

IEN ASCROFT-LEIGH

BORN: 08/09/87

POSITION: Lock

HEIGHT: 6ft 5ins

WEIGHT: 18st 1lb

FORMER CLUBS: Newbury, Cambridge, Ealing and Santa Monica

HONOURS: Somerset

ASCROFT-LEIGH has joined Albion this summer. Previously played at this level with Newbury between 2005-09. Has made nearly 150 National League appearances in spells at three clubs.

PAUL BAILEY

BORN: 03/06/82

POSITION: Utility back

HEIGHT: 6ft 1ins

WEIGHT: 14st 6lbs

FORMER CLUBS: Limoges (France), Bourg en Bresse (France), Doncaster, Saracens

HONOURS: England U19s

ALBION DEBUT:03/09/11 against Esher

BAILEY proved to be Albion's Mr Versatile last season, playing centre, fly-half, wing and full-back. He is vastly experienced and has good passing ability and a turn of pace.

BRETT BEUKEBOOM

BORN: 13/08/90

POSITION: Lock

HEIGHT: 6ft 5ins

WEIGHT: 17st 8.0lb

FORMER CLUBS: Lindsay Gryphons, University of Victoria

HONOURS: Canada

THE young up-and-coming Canadian lock is one of Albion's new summer recruits. Canada have big hopes for Beukeboom, who made his debut for their national team in the summer.

TOM BOWEN

BORN: 31/01/93

POSITION: Wing

HEIGHT: 5ft 9ins

WEIGHT: 12st 4lb

FORMER CLUBS: Leicester Tigers

HONOURS: England U18s

YOUNG winger Bowen joined Albion this summer for a year from Leicester Tigers Academy and will be hoping to make his mark in the Championship.

AARON CARPENTER

BORN: Brantford, 09/01/83

POSITION: Number eight

HEIGHT: 6ft

WEIGHT: 17st

FORMER CLUBS: Coventry

HONOURS: Canada

ALBION DEBUT: 28/08/10 v Bedford

CANADA'S new international captain is beginning his third season at Albion and fourth in the Championship. He is one of Albion's key players and he was missed at the start of last season when he was away on World Cup duty. However, he finished last term strongly and claimed The Herald readers' player of the year award.

LUKE COWAN-DICKIE

BORN: 20/06/93

POSITION: Prop

HEIGHT: 6ft

WEIGHT: 17st 6lb

FORMER CLUBS: DR – Exeter

HONOURS: England U20s, U18s

ALBION DEBUT:

CORNISH prop Cowan-Dickie is in his second season as a dual-registered player at Albion from Premiership side Exeter. Starred in for England Under-20s in this summer's Junior World Cup and will be hoping to build on that form this term.

TOM COWAN-DICKIE

BORN: 26/05/1991

POSITION: Hooker

HEIGHT: 6ft 1in

WEIGHT: 16st 11lbs

FORMER CLUBS: Redruth,Penzance

HONOURS: England U19s, SW U18s and Cornwall age groups

HOOKER Tom has joined his brother on a dual registration agreement from Exeter. He was at the Pirates last term but did not get a lot of game-time. He will be hoping for more at Albion.

RUAIRI CUSHION

BORN: London 02/09/83

POSITION: Scrum-half

HEIGHT: 6ft

WEIGHT: 13st 7lb

FORMER CLUBS: Old Belvedere, Leinster A

HONOURS: All-Ireland Clubs' XV

ALBION DEBUT: 13/09/09 against Rotherham

IRISHMAN Cushion is starting his fourth season at Albion. He is Albion's Mr Dependable and is one the club's leaders on and off the pitch.

LLOYD FAIRBROTHER

BORN:13 /11/91

POSITION: Prop

HEIGHT: 5ft 9ins

WEIGHT: 18st 12lbs

FORMER CLUBS: Cornish Pirates, Exeter Chiefs – DR

THE Torpoint prop has joined Albion on a dual-registration agreement from Exeter Chiefs. He spent last season at the Pirates, but only started one match, although he did make nine replacement appearances. Will be hoping to make his mark in the Championship this season.

KENI FISILAU

BORN: Tonga 04/05/76

POSITION: Centre

HEIGHT: 5ft 8in

WEIGHT: 14st 4lb

FORMER CLUBS: Mataura (NZ), Toa-Ko-Maatu (Tonga)

HONOURS: Tonga, Tonga Sevens, Devon

ALBION DEBUT: 01/09/2001 v Sedgley Park

THERE is not much more you can say about Fisilau that has not already been said. The Tongan centre is Albion's record league appearance holder and is starting his 12th season with the club. Earlier this year the evergreen back enjoyed a successful testimonial.

SAM MATAVESI

BORN: 13/01/92

POSITION: Flanker

HEIGHT: 6ft

WEIGHT: 16st

FORMER CLUBS: Camborne, Albion

HONOURS: Cornwall

ALBION DEBUT: 30/10/10 against Moseley

MATAVESI has returned to Albion after a season playing regularly with Camborne. He will be hoping add to the five first team appearances he made in 2010/11.

SAM HOCKING

BORN: Plymouth 17/12/84

POSITION: Back-row

HEIGHT: 6ft 3in

WEIGHT: 17st 2lb

FORMER CLUBS: Launceston, Bath, Liskeard-Looe

HONOURS: Cornwall

ALBION DEBUT: 16/01/10 against Coventry

HOCKING is in his third full season at Albion, having previously had a short loan spell at the club in 2009/10. The Cornish back-row forward, whose father also played for Albion, is hoping this season will be the one where he becomes a permanent starter.

RYAN HOPKINS

BORN: Devon 20/09/80

POSITION: Prop

HEIGHT: 6ft

WEIGHT: 18st

FORMER CLUBS: Nottingham, Albion, Exeter

HONOURS: England Counties, England Students, Devon

ALBION DEBUT: 06/11/04 v Moseley

HOPKINS is Albion's second most experienced player, having played nearly 150 games for the club. The Devon-born prop's two spells at Albion were separated by two years at Nottingham.

TOBY HOWLEY-BERRIDGE

BORN: 16/05/90

POSITION: Centre

HEIGHT: 5ft 10in

WEIGHT: 14st 6lb

FORMER CLUBS: Doncaster, Cambridge, Shelford

HONOURS: England Counties, Eastern Counties

THE centre has joined Albion this summer after a short trial. Spent the second half of last season at Doncaster, although only made two appearances due to injury.

SAM JONES

BORN: 15/08/1991

POSITION: Centre/wing

HEIGHT: 6ft 3ins

WEIGHT: 15st 6lbs

FORMER CLUBS: Newton Abbot, Exeter academy, Plymstock Jnr

HONOURS: England U18 and 19s

SALTASH youngster Jones is hoping to make his mark at Albion after leaving Ivybridge Community College. Did gain some senior league experience at Newton Abbot last year.

Was part of England Under-18s successful squad, alongside Slade and Arnott, that earned a series win over Australia in 2011.

DAN LEE

BORN: 26/02/93

POSITION: Back-row

HEIGHT: 6ft 2ins

WEIGHT: 15st 9lb

HONOURS: England Counties U20s, England U18s clubs and schools, England U19 Academics

ALBION DEBUT: 21/09/11 against Moseley

PROMISING back-rower Lee is likely to be out until the new year after needing major knee surgery in the summer.

Made his league debut against Bristol and then played against Doncaster before finishing last year on loan at Barnstaple.

LOUIS MESSER

BORN: 19/09/88

POSITION: Full-back

HEIGHT: 6ft

WEIGHT: 15st 6lbs

FORMER CLUBS: UWIC, Bath

HONOURS: England Students Somerset

MESSER is another one of Albion's new recruits. He is a former Bath academy player who has spent the last three years studying at UWIC.

RHODRI McATEE

BORN: 02/08/84

POSITION: Wing, scrum-half

HEIGHT: 5ft 11ins

WEIGHT: 13st 9lbs

FORMER CLUBS: Cornish Pirates, Newport

HONOURS: England U18, 19s, Wales U21s, Wales 7s and Barbarians

McATEE has joined Albion this summer from the Pirates. He is a vastly experienced Championship campaigner who knows where the try line is.

DAVID MORTON

BORN: 08/03/89

POSITION: Prop

HEIGHT: 5ft 10in

WEIGHT: 16st 2lb

FORMER CLUBS: Inverell Highlanders (Aus), Bridgwater, Taunton,

HONOURS: Scotland U20, U19s and U18s

ALBION DEBUT: 13/09/09 against Rotherham

MORTON has established himself as a key member of Albion's squad. A solid hard-working prop.

RUPENI NASIGA

BORN: 08/10/85

POSITION: Lock/back-row

HEIGHT: 6ft 4in

WEIGHT: 18st 4lbs

FORMER CLUBS: Manukau, Sigatoka

HONOURS: Fiji

THE Fijian international is one of Albion's big signings of the summer. Played in the 2011 World Cup and looking forward to tasting Northern Hemisphere rugby for the first time.

PAUL ROBERTS

BORN: 25/09/89

POSITION: Fly-half

HEIGHT: 5ft 11ins

WEIGHT: 13s 12lbs

FORMER CLUBS: Bath

HONOURS: England Students

ALBION DEBUT: 24/12/11 against Cornish Pirates

ROBERTS made the move to Albion permanently in the summer after spending the second half of last term on loan from Bath.

BEN ROGERS

BORN: 10/06/92

POSITION: Prop

HEIGHT: 6ft

WEIGHT: 17st 3lb

FORMER CLUBS: Newton Abbot, Exeter, Albion

HONOURS: Devon, South West U16, SW Academies

ALBION DEBUT: 21/09/11 against Moseley

ROGERS started last season at Albion but then was offered a chance at Exeter Chiefs before returning to Newton Abbot.

PAUL ROWLEY

BORN: 15/12/87

POSITION: Scrum-half

HEIGHT: 5ft 10ins

WEIGHT: 14st

FORMER CLUBS: Munster, Shannon

HONOURS: Munster U18s, U19s and U20s, Munster A

ALBION DEBUT: 12/10/11 against Cornish Pirates

ROWLEY will be hoping to really make his mark this term after frustratingly missing the start and finish of last season with an ankle problem.

JAMIE SALTER

BORN: 04/04/85

POSITION: Hooker

HEIGHT: 6ft

WEIGHT: 15st 5lbs

FORMER CLUBS: Mounts Bay, Launceston, Albion

HONOURS: Cornwall

ALBION DEBUT: 20/12/08 against Nottingham

EGGBUCKLAND teacher Salter has returned to Albion this summer after three years at Launceston.

HENRY SLADE

BORN: Plymouth 19/03/93

POSITION: Fly-half

HEIGHT: 6ft 2in

WEIGHT: 13st

FORMER CLUBS: DR - Exeter, Ivybridge Juniors

HONOURS: England U20s, U18s

ALBION DEBUT: 22/09/11 against Moseley

THE Plymouth-born fly-half is spending his second season as a dual registered player from Exeter. Unfortunately he only managed two league starts last term due to two long-term injuries. Will be hoping to really establish himself this term. Scored a memorable try on his league debut against the Cornish Pirates.

WAYNE SPRANGLE

BORN: Salisbury 28/10/82

POSITION: Flanker

HEIGHT: 6ft 3in

WEIGHT: 16st 5lb

FORMER CLUBS: Launceston, Bath

HONOURS: England Counties, Somerset

ALBION DEBUT: 30/08/08 v Coventry

SPRANGLE has made himself a fans' favourite over the few seasons with his energetic displays. Combines rugby with working as a teacher.

SEAN-MICHAEL STEPHEN

BORN: Canada 27/10/82

POSITION: Flanker

HEIGHT: 6ft 5in

WEIGHT: 17st

FORMER CLUBS: Beziers (France), Oakville (Canada)

HONOURS: Canada

ALBION DEBUT: 20/09/08 v Newbury

STEPHEN led Albion supremely well during all the turmoil at the club last season. A real inspirational player for the club who can play flanker or in the second-row.

HERBIE STUPPLE

BORN: 16/11/1990

POSITION: Back-row

HEIGHT: 6ft 3in

WEIGHT: 18st

FORMER CLUBS: Exeter, Taunton (loan), Launceston (loan) Redruth (loan)

HONOURS: England U19s

ALBION DEBUT:03/09/11 against Esher

STUPPLE joined Albion permanently in the summer after spending last season at the club as a dual registered player from Exeter. A powerful player who can make good yards.

HARRISON TOVEY

BORN: 27/08/89

POSITION: Lock/back-row

HEIGHT: 6ft 4ins

WEIGHT: 17st

FORMER CLUBS: Clifton

HONOURS: SW U18s, England U18s

TOVEY is hoping to make his mark in the Championship after joining Albion from lower league side Clifton. Can play back-row or second-row and has an impressive turn of speed.

JON VICKERS

BORN: 23/12/1988

POSITION: hooker

HEIGHT: 5ft 9in

WEIGHT: 16st 4lb

FORMER CLUBS: Exeter and Northampton Saints

HONOURS: England U16s

ALBION DEBUT: 03/09/11 against Esher

VICKERS, like Stupple, has joined Albion permanently after spending last season as a dual registered player. Last year he missed most of the campaign with a neck injury but recovered to show his form in the play-offs.

LEWIS WARNER

BORN: 25/07/91

POSITION: Centre

HEIGHT: 5ft 11ins

WEIGHT: 13st 9lbs

FORMER CLUBS: Clifton, Wimbourne.

HONOURS: Welsh Rugby League U23

WARNER is an exciting young prospect who has joined Albion this summer. Has played rugby league in the past.

TOM WHELAN (fly-half) 05/09/89

ED MASLAVECKAS (flanker/centre) 21/10/89

KADE DILLON (flanker) 06/01/92

TOBY BORROW (centre/flanker) 04/05/91

MARK MANTON (prop/lock) 19/06/67

KYLE MASON (prop) 22/03/85