Earnshaw Russell

Russell D Earnshaw

Position: Flanker

Born: 8th April 1975 in Billingham.

Height: 6ft 4in

Weight: 15st 3lbs

Education: Red House School, Norton, Yarm School and St John’s Cambridge University.

Achievements: A coach of the England 7’s teams

Honours: Barbarians (1 cap) Cambridge Blue in 1996 and 1997.

Debut game: 14th August 1997 v Newbury (replacement for Nathan Thomas)

Competitive Debut: 23rd August 1997 v Newcastle

Final game: 22nd August 1999 v Bridgend

Number of Appearances: 58

Career details:

Hailed as an exciting signing in the summer of 1997, Russell Earnshaw arrived at the Rec. as a relative unknown to many, but having impressed in a short spell with North East outfit West Hartlepool. Described in his time as the fittest man at the club, Russell was an instant hit with the fans after making his first team debut in a pre-season match with Newbury as a replacement for Nathan Thomas. His league debut wasn’t delayed long as the blond-haired flanker found himself pitched straight into battle in the opening league match of the season against Newcastle Falcons at the Rec. After Bath’s 13-20 defeat in that match Russell lost his place in the side only to return with a bang on the 14^th September as Bath beat Scottish Borders 31-17 in the Heineken Cup. Earnshaw grabbed a brace of tries that cemented his place in the starting line up for the majority of the rest of the year. He ended his first year at the club having featured in 32 matches and having crossed for six tries. His brace at Scottish Borders was followed up by further tries against Northampton Saints, Gloucester and NEC Harlequins at home and Gloucester away. The following season saw Russell used in more of a utility role as the arrival of Ben Sturnham ousted him from the flanker’s position. He still managed to play in 28 matches for Bath in the 1998/1999 season, but ten of those were as a replacement. He did score tries against former employees West Hartlepool, Newcastle (in the cup) and Northampton and Harlequins at the end of the campaign, but it was clear that he was desperate regular for first team rugby. One side note saw Earnshaw unfairly called up for a late penalty in the cup clash with Newcastle, when in the final minute he was adjudged to have taken out the man in the air, when television replays clearly indicated no offence had taken place. Jonny Wilkinson, need less to say, kicked the resultant penalty to put Bath out. Earnshaw’s final appearance for Bath was in a pre-season match with Bridgend at the Brewery Field in August 1999, where he crossed for his eleventh Bath try, but injury followed and upon his return he found his way into the first team blocked and thus went to the Bedford Blues. Since then, Earnshaw signed for Rotherham had played against Bath in the 2000/2001 season, the year the Yorkshire club was relegated. He was on hand though to help them reclaim the National League Title in 2001/2002 and capped the season with an appearance at Twickenham in the Powergen Shield defeat of Exeter Chiefs, before joining Cecil Duckworth’s rugby revolution at Worcester.

A coach of England 7’s.

Bath Rugby Appearances: 1997/1998 – 1999/2000: 43(14)

Bath Rugby Points: 55 – 11t

Barbarians Record: 1 cap: 2000 – Ger

Signed From: West Hartlepool

Transferred To: Bedford

Also Played For: Rotherham, Worcester