Alex Coles (rugby union)

Alex Coles
Full nameAlexander Joel C. Coles
Born (1999-09-21) 21 September 1999
Cambridge, England
Height2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
Weight120.5 kg (266 lb; 19 st 0 lb)
SchoolThe Perse School
UniversityBirkbeck, University of London
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock, Flanker
Current team Northampton Saints
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019– Northampton Saints 140 (115)
Correct as of 3 January 2026
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017 England U18 2 (0)
2019 England U20 10 (5)
2022– England 22 (10)
Correct as of 18 July 2026

Alexander Joel C. Coles (born 21 September 1999) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for PREM Rugby club Northampton Saints and the England national team.[1]

Early life

Whilst pursuing rugby, Coles studied BA Politics Philosophy and History at Birkbeck, University of London.[2]

Club career

Coles played rugby as a child at Newmarket and Shelford Rugby Club prior to joining the academy of Northampton Saints at the age of fourteen.[3] In November 2018 he made his club debut for Northampton in a Premiership Rugby Cup match against Wasps and the following year scored his first try for the club against Timișoara in the EPCR Challenge Cup.[4][5]

Coles started in the 2023–24 Premiership Rugby final as Northampton defeated Bath to become league champions.[6] In May 2024, following an impressive season he was named in the Premiership Rugby Team of the Season for that campaign.[7]

Coles scored a try during the 2024–25 European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-final victory over Castres.[8] He also scored both of their tries in the 2025 European Rugby Champions Cup final at Millennium Stadium as Northampton lost against Bordeaux Bègles to finish runners up.[9]

In January 2026, Coles scored three tries in a 66–21 victory against Harlequins.[10] At the end of that season he started in the 2026 Prem final which saw Northampton defeat Exeter Chiefs to regain their league title.[11]

International career

In 2017 Coles played for the England under-18 team on their tour of South Africa.[3][12] He represented the England under-20 team in the 2019 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and was a member of the squad that finished fifth at the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[4][13]

Coles received his first call-up to the senior England squad by coach Eddie Jones for the 2022 Autumn internationals.[14] On 6 November 2022, Coles made his Test debut starting in a 29–30 loss to Argentina during the Autumn Nations Series.[15][16]

Coles made his first Six Nations appearances as a substitute in victories over Italy and Wales during the 2024 tournament.[17][18] Later that year he was included in the squad for their tour of New Zealand and played in both test defeats as England lost the series.[19]

List of international tries

As of 4 July 2026[20]

Try Opposing team Location Venue Competition Date Result Score
1  France Paris, France Stade de France 2026 Six Nations 14 March 2026 Loss 48 – 46
2  South Africa Johannesburg, South Africa Ellis Park Stadium 2026 Nations Championship 4 July 2026 Loss 45 – 21

Honours

Northampton

References

  1. ↑ "Alex Coles". ESPN. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  2. ↑ "Birkbeck allowed me to continue my professional rugby career whilst studying for a degree and preparing for my future". Birkbeck, University of London. 22 February 2023. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  3. 1 2 Mockford, Sarah (4 November 2020). "Hotshot: Northampton lock Alex Coles". Rugby World. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  4. 1 2 Taylor, Mark (4 June 2019). "Alex Coles seeks to cap a year to remember with victory with England at the 2019 World Rugby Under-20 Championships". Cambridge Independent. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  5. ↑ "Northampton and Harlequins into last eight". Sky Sports. 18 January 2019. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  6. 1 2 Hurcom, Sophie (8 June 2024). "Northampton hold off 14-man Bath in Premiership final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  7. ↑ "Premiership Rugby Team of the Season 2023/34". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  8. ↑ Mann, Mantej (11 April 2025). "Saints thrash Castres to set up Leinster rematch". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  9. 1 2 Henson, Mike (24 May 2025). "Bordeaux bulldoze Northampton to win Champions Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  10. ↑ "Northampton Saints 66–21 Harlequins". BBC Sport. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  11. 1 2 Henson, Mike (19 June 2026). "Northampton beat Exeter to win Prem Rugby title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  12. ↑ "Alex Coles earns England under-18s call". Cambridge Independent. 11 August 2017. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  13. ↑ "World Rugby U20 Championship: England U20 45-26 Wales U20". BBC Sport. 22 June 2019. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  14. ↑ "Eddie Jones leaves Danny Care out of England training squad as Saracens' Hugh Tizard called up". BBC Sport. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  15. ↑ "England v Argentina: Alex Coles handed debut against Pumas". BBC Sport. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  16. ↑ Henson, Mike (6 November 2022). "England 29-30 Argentina". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  17. ↑ Mann, Mantej (3 February 2024). "Six Nations 2024: Italy 24-27 England - Visitors come from behind for narrow win in Rome". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  18. ↑ Mann, Mantej (10 February 2024). "Six Nations 2024: England 16-14 Wales - hosts fight back to edge to victory". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  19. ↑ Mann, Mantej (13 July 2024). "Barrett sparks fightback as All Blacks beat England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  20. ↑ "Alex Coles". All.Rugby. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
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