Harry Potter (rugby union)

Harry Potter
Born (1997-12-15) 15 December 1997
Wimbledon, London, England
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)[1][2]
Weight95 kg (209 lb)[1][2]
SchoolBrighton Grammar School
UniversitySydney University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Wing, Fullback
Current team Western Force
Youth career
St Brendan's Old Boys[1]
Moorabbin[2]
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–2019 Sydney University 32 (90)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018 NSW Country Eagles 2 (0)
2019 Melbourne Rising 1 (5)
2020 Melbourne Rebels 0 (0)
2020–2023 Leicester Tigers 67 (100)
2024–2025 Western Force 19 (40)
2026– Waratahs 0 (0)
Correct as of 24 May 2025
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2024– Australia 11 (15)
Correct as of 22 November 2025

Harry Potter (born 15 December 1997) is an Australian rugby union player who plays as a wing for the New South Wales Waratahs in the Super Rugby, and the Australia national team. Potter's main position is on the wings (No. 11, 14), but he has often played at fullback and the centre positions. In October 2024, made his international debut for Australia, becoming Wallaby #989.[3]

Early life

Potter was born in Wimbledon in the South London borough of Merton, England.[4][5] Potter moved to Bristol in his youth before moving again, this time abroad to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia when he was 10 years old. He played for Brighton Grammar School in his youth career. Contrary to popular belief, he was not named after the Harry Potter book series as that came out 6 months before his birth but his parents selected the name independently.[6]

Club career

In August 2019, Potter was announced to have been included in the full Melbourne Rebels squad for the 2020 season after playing with the Melbourne Rising in the National Rugby Championship.[7][8]

Potter signed for Premiership Rugby side Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2020–21 season.[9] He made his debut on 22 August 2020 against Bath at Welford Road.[10][11] He started the 2022 Premiership Rugby final as Tigers beat Saracens 15–12.[12]

On 25 May 2023, it was announced that Potter had left Leicester to pursue an opportunity in Australia. On 1 June 2023 he was confirmed as signing for the Perth-based Western Force in the Super Rugby Pacific.[13] Potter made his debut in the first round of the 2024 season against the Hurricanes.[14] Potter started on the right wing (No. 14). In the third minute of the match Potter tackled fullback Ruben Love mid-air in his attempt to catch a high-ball and was subsequently sin binned.[15] The Force lost at home 14–44.[15] For the remainder of the season Potter started in every match and moved to fullback in his last two matches of the season (Round 5, 6),[14] scoring one try in the process[14] before sustaining a season-ending syndesmosis ankle injury against the Fijian Drua in their round six match.[16] Potter underwent surgery in April and stated that he would likely return to full fitness in mid-July,[17] after the season had already concluded. Potter later made two appearances in the 2024 Toyota Challenge in October against the South African Cheetahs and Emerging Ireland teams,[18] scoring two tries against the former in a 24–38 win in Bloemfontein.[19] The following month Potter was called-up to the Wallabies squad.[3]

In 2025, Potter featured in thirteen of the Force's fourteen regular-season fixtures, scoring seven tries,[14][20] the second-highest tally within the squad, behind only Carlo Tizzano. Although the 2025 season was disappointing for the Force, who finished ninth on the ladder and fell short of finals qualification, Potter was a standout player for the team, and among the Super Rugby's leading performers that year. Potter was one of just three players to hit a century of carries for the team (112),[21] and one of just 34 players to make 100+ carries in the regular season of Super Rugby in 2025.[21] He also had the best gainline success rate (74%) and the second-most metres per carry (7.0), behind compatriot and ACT Brumbies fullback Tom Wright (7.1).[21] Potter also boasted the second-highest tackle evasion rate: 45% (of players to face 100+ tackles), behind only the Chiefs' Damian McKenzie (51%).[21] His tally of 47 defenders beaten was also third in the league, bettered by only McKenzie (53) and the Highlanders' Timoci Tavatavanawai (78).[21] At the end of the season Potter was named in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific's Team of the Year.[22]

In July 2025, Potter signed with the New South Wales Waratahs on a two-year deal, beginning in the 2026 season.[23] Ahead of the first round of the 2026 season, Potter was named on the right wing in the Waratahs' clash with rivals the Queensland Reds.[24]

International career

In October 2024, Potter was named in the Australia squad for Autumn Nations Series by head coach Joe Schmidt.[25] In November 2024, he went to make his debut against Scotland, scoring a try as his side went on to lose 27–13.[26]

Honours

Leicester: 1x Gallagher Premiership (2021–22)

References

  1. ^ a b c "Harry Potter". Sydney University Football Club. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Harry Potter". Rebel Media. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Harry Potter | Wallabies". wallabies.rugby. Rugby Australia.
  4. ^ "Harry Potter and the defence of the shield: Can Uni do it again?". Behind the Ruck. 6 April 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Harry Potter". Rugby.com.au. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  6. ^ Morgan, Charlie (30 September 2021). "'Don't call me magical': Meet Harry Potter - Leicester Tigers' elusive wing who is weary of wizarding puns". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  7. ^ "Expelliarmus! Harry Potter signs Super Rugby contract with Rebels". Fox Sports Australia. 28 August 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  8. ^ "You're a Rebel Harry! #HarryPotter is coming to Melbourne for 2020". Instagram. @melbournerebels. 26 August 2019. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  9. ^ "Tigers add Potter to senior squad" (Press release). Leicester Tigers. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Leicester make 13 changes as they prepare to host Bath on Saturday". Rugby Pass. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Harry Potter and the Leicester Tigers: meet the pro sportsman that everyone makes the same jokes about". Leicester Mercury. Reach plc. 29 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  12. ^ "Premiership final: Leicester Tigers 15-12 Saracens - Freddie Burns drop-goal clinches title". BBC Sport. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  13. ^ Kyriacou, Adam (1 June 2023). "Harry Potter's new club announced as he's set for midfield switch". Planet Rugby. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  14. ^ a b c d "Harry Potter: Stats – All Rugby". all.rugby. All Rugby.
  15. ^ a b "Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force thrashed 44–14 by Hurricanes in season opener". The West Australian. Seven West Media. 23 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force star Harry Potter set to miss rest of the season with ankle injury". The West Australian. Seven West Media. 3 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Potter discusses injury timeline on Full Force Podcast". westernforce.rugby. Western Force. 14 May 2024.
  18. ^ O'Sullivan, John (6 October 2024). "Sam Prendergast steers Emerging Ireland to hard-fought win over Western Force". The Irish Times.
  19. ^ Somerford, Ben (3 October 2024). "Potter dazzles as Force down Cheetahs with impressive road win". westernforce.rugby. Western Force.
  20. ^ "Potter to exit Western Force for NSW Waratahs". westernforce.rugby. Western Force. 8 July 2025. Potter backed up with an exemplary 2025 Super Rugby Pacific where he scored seven tries from 13 games and was named in the Super Rugby Team of the Year.
  21. ^ a b c d e "Five Wallabies to Watch During the 2025 British & Irish Lions Series". Opta Sports. 8 July 2025.
  22. ^ "Australians outnumber Kiwis in Super Rugby's 2025 Team of the Year". Stuff. Stuff Ltd. 3 June 2025. Archived from the original on 4 June 2025.
  23. ^ "Potter re-commits to Australian Rugby, joins Waratahs for 2026". wallabies.rugby. Rugby Australia. 8 July 2025. Archived from the original on 11 July 2025.
  24. ^ Wright, Nick (11 February 2026). "Kiss spared dilemma – for now. His next move could decide Australian rugby's fate". Brisbane Times.
  25. ^ "Joseph Sua'ali'i joins Skelton and Kerevi in Wallabies squad for UK and Ireland tour". The Guardian. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  26. ^ "Autumn Nations Series: Scotland earn 27-13 win over Australia - reaction". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
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