View source for Tim Stimpson

{{short description|British Lions & England international rugby union player}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name            = Tim Stimpson
| image           =
| birth_name      = Timothy Richard George Stimpson
| birth_date      = {{birth date and age|1973|9|10|df=yes}}
| birth_place     = [[Liverpool]], Merseyside, England
| height          = {{height|ft=6|in=3}}
| weight          = 16 st 7 lb (105 kg)
| school          = [[Silcoates School]]
| university      = [[University of Durham]]
| position        = [[Fullback (rugby union)|Full-back]]
| years1          = 
| years2          = 
| years3          = 
| years4          = 1998–2003
| years5          = 2003–2004
| years6          = 2004–2006
| clubs1          = [[Wakefield RFC|Wakefield]]
| clubs2          = [[West Hartlepool R.F.C.|West Hartlepool]]
| clubs3          = [[Newcastle Falcons]]
| clubs4          = [[Leicester Tigers]]
| clubs5          = [[USA Perpignan|Perpignan]]
| clubs6          = [[Leeds Tykes]]
| clubs7          = [[Nottingham R.F.C.|Nottingham RFC]]
| apps1           = 
| apps2           = 
| apps3           = 
| apps4           = 125
| apps5           = 0
| apps6           = 29
| points1         = 
| points2         = 
| points3         = 
| points4         = 1455
| points5         = 0
| points6         = 125
| repyears1       = 
| repyears2       = 
| repyears3       = 1996–2002
| repyears4       = [[1997 British Lions tour to South Africa|1997]]
| repteam1        = [[England national under-20 rugby union team|England U-21]]
| repteam2        = [[England Saxons]]
| repteam3        = [[England national rugby union team|England]]
| repteam4        = [[British and Irish Lions]]
| repcaps1        = 
| repcaps2        = 
| repcaps3        = 19
| repcaps4        = 1
| reppoints1      = 
| reppoints2      = 
| reppoints3      = 35
| reppoints4      = 0
| repsevensyears1 = 
| repsevenscomp1  =  
}}

'''Timothy Richard George Stimpson''' (born 10 September 1973 in [[Liverpool]]) is a former [[rugby union]] international [[Fullback (rugby union)|full back]] (and occasional wing). During his career he played for [[Wakefield RFC|Wakefield]], [[West Hartlepool R.F.C.|West Hartlepool]], [[Newcastle Falcons]], [[Leicester Tigers]], [[USA Perpignan|Perpignan]], [[Yorkshire Carnegie|Leeds Tykes]] and Nottingham, [[England national rugby union team|England]] and the [[British and Irish Lions]]. His international career was a start-stop affair, however, he excelled at club level. In particular, during his five-year spell at Leicester Tigers between 1998 and 2003, as a goalkicker, he was an integral part of the dominant Leicester side that won the league four times in succession to add to back-to-back [[Heineken Cup]], becoming the Premiership's top points scorer in the process (his points total has now been overtaken by both [[Jonny Wilkinson]] and [[Andy Goode]]).

==Early life==
Stimpson was educated at [[Silcoates School]], [[Wakefield]]. In 1992, he went to the [[University of Durham]], where he studied [[anthropology]] at [[Grey College, Durham|Grey College]], graduating in 1995.

==Club career==
Stimpson fell out with Newcastle's management and [[Rob Andrew]] during the 1997–98 season and only made four appearances for them as they won the [[1997–98 English Premiership (rugby union)|Premiership]].<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://stats.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/records/player/records.html?id=2529;team=249;type=tournament
|title=Allied Dunbar Premiership, 1997/98 / Newcastle Falcons / Player records
|publisher=ESPNscrum
|accessdate=7 September 2014}}</ref> At the end of the season he signed for [[Leicester Tigers]]. After the retirement of [[Joel Stransky]] in 1999 he became Leicester Tigers' principal goalkicker.

In the [[2001 Heineken Cup Final]] against [[Stade Français]] he converted [[Leon Lloyd]]'s last minute try from the right-hand touchline—the most difficult position to kick a conversion from for a right-footed kicker—to take the match from 32–30 to 34–30 to Leicester. This meant that to win the match, Stade would have had to score a try rather than the easier task of their fly-half [[Diego Domínguez (rugby union)|Diego Dominguez]], who kicked all of Stade's points, landing a goal. There were no further scores.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2000/heineken_cup/1339721.stm
|title=European glory seals Leicester treble
|publisher=BBC Sport
|date=19 May 2001 |accessdate=7 September 2014}}</ref>

A year later, in the 2002 [[Heineken Cup]] semi-final against [[Llanelli RFC|Llanelli]]. With only a few minutes remaining, the score was 10–12 to Llanelli, Stimpson having kicked a penalty and converted [[Harry Ellis]]'s try, [[Stephen Jones (rugby union)|Stephen Jones]] having kicked four penalties for the Scarlets. In windy conditions, Tigers were awarded a penalty at a scrum inside their own half, and Stimpson elected to go for goal from 60m out. The ball hit one of the posts and the crossbar, before going over to give the Tigers a 13–12 lead which they held onto to gain the victory.<ref>{{cite news|title=Leicester break Llanelli hearts|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/european/1951291.stm|date=28 April 2002 | publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> Tigers went on to win the final against Munster, Stimpson kicking a penalty and a conversion.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/european/2008245.stm
|title=Tigers retain European Cup
|publisher=BBC Sport
|date=25 May 2002 |accessdate=7 September 2014}}</ref>

In 2003 he was rumoured to be linked to French club [[USA Perpignan|Perpignan]] despite having time left on his contract at Leicester. Despite initial denials from Tigers' management, he did sign and moved to France after the [[2003 Rugby Union World Cup|2003 World Cup]], Tigers releasing him from his contract. However, he failed to play for [[USA Perpignan|Perpignan]] and in 2004 returned to England to play for [[Leeds Tykes]]. While at Leeds he helped them win the Powergen Cup in 2005, however he was not in the squad for the final itself.<ref>{{cite news 
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/4445363.stm
|title=Bath 12-20 Leeds 
|publisher=[[BBC]] 
|date=16 April 2005 |access-date=14 July 2013}}</ref> He decided to retire from playing for Leeds Tykes to pursue a career in coaching in January 2006. In the summer of 2006 his services were used by Nottingham Rugby Club,{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} where he presently holds a part-time coaching role.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}

Stimpson won a record five consecutive Premiership titles with Newcastle Falcons and Leicester Tigers.

The Leeds Tykes Coach, [[Phil Davies (rugby union)|Phil Davies]], commented "he will always be remembered as one of the most successful players ever in the professional era in this country".

==International career==
Stimpson went on the [[1997 British Lions tour to South Africa]] and would have played in the tests as first choice [[Fullback (rugby union)|full back]]{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} were it not for the better goal-kicking of [[Neil Jenkins]] that was crucial to the Lions' series victory.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.rugbynetwork.net/main/s103/st20356.php "Bootiful" Tim Stimpson: A Profile], rugbynetwork.net
*[https://archive.today/20130421031428/http://www.leedscarnegie.co.uk/rugby/leeds_carnegie_first_xv.php?player=3739&includeref=dynamic Leeds profile], leedscarnegie.co.uk
*[http://www.leicestertigers.com/squad/players.php?player=3739&includeref=dynamic Leicester tigers profile], tigers.co.uk
*{{ESPNscrum|12409}}
*[http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=7546 rugby-heroes profile], sporting-heroes.net
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/european/1951291.stm BBC News – Leicester break Llanelli hearts], bbc.co.uk

{{British and Irish Lions 1997}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stimpson, Tim}}
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of Grey College, Durham]]
[[Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from England]]
[[Category:Durham University RFC players]]
[[Category:England international rugby union players]]
[[Category:English rugby union players]]
[[Category:Leeds Tykes players]]
[[Category:Leicester Tigers players]]
[[Category:Newcastle Red Bulls players]]
[[Category:People educated at Silcoates School]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Liverpool]]
[[Category:Wakefield RFC players]]
[[Category:West Hartlepool R.F.C. players]]
[[Category:Rugby union fullbacks]]