In the second of a new series, Blues' New Signings, we introduce versatile Wales International and former Saracens Centre Tom Shanklin.
Player Profile
Name Tom Shanklin
Born Harrow on 24th November 1979
Height 6 2
Weight 15st
Position Centre
Honours Wales (14)
Tom Shanklin played his first senior rugby for London Welsh before joining Saracens in August 1999. His father, Jim, had previously played for the Exiles, from where he won four caps for Wales between 1970 and 1973. His birthplace in Harrow gives him dual qualification for England and Wales but he has emulated his father in the red jersey of his homeland. Toms first game for Wales A was against England at Wrexham in February 2001 when the first five names on the team sheet read: Rhys Williams, Nick Walne, Tom Shanklin, Jamie Robinson and Craig Morgan. The pack included Ben Evans and Craig Quinnell and Andrew Lewis was a replacement. All are now Cardiff Blues.
In the summer of 2001 Tom toured Japan with Wales and scored two tries on his international debut in the second test in Tokyo. In that game he played on the right wing having earlier partnered Jamie Robinson at centre in the midweek fixture against the Pacific Barbarians. His Six Nations baptism was against France in 2002, back again in the centre, and he toured South Africa and then Australia and New Zealand in the two summers since. His appearance against New Zealand in Hamilton was his 14th full cap. Tom was one of the first new signings for Cardiff Blues in the early summer of 2003.
Blues New Signings
1) Jonny Vaughton - click here to read