Sam Bland
| Full name | Sam Bland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 19 July 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Settle College, Bishop Burton College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sam Bland (born 19 July 2007) is a English professional rugby union player who plays for Harlequins.[1]
Career
Junior Career
Bland began his rugby career at 7 joining North Yorkshire side, Wharfedale RUFC. Strong performances with the side led to him being selected by Yorkshire to join their DPP programme and in 2023 he joined the Yorkshire Rugby Academy to play in the Premiership U18.[2] At the same time he joined Bishop Burton College, playing for the school in the RFU ACE League.[3]
Harlequins
In the summer of 2025, Bland signed a senior academy contract with PREM Rugby side Harlequins.[4]
On the February 21st 2026, Bland made his debut against Leicester Tigers in the 9th round of the 2025–26 PREM Rugby Cup. He came off the bench in the 55th minute replacing Joe Jones in the front row, Bland conceded 4 penalties and a yellow card in the 33-27 loss.[5][6]
He travelled down to Cornwall with a number of other Harlequin players for a mid-season training camp before playing in a friendly against Champ Rugby side Cornish Pirates, coming off the bench in the 66-10 win.[7][8]
Esher
Bland was loaned out to Esher in National Two East, making his debut coming off the bench against Havant RFC scoring a last minute try to seal a second last-gasp win.[9][10]
Tonbridge Juddians
He was also loaned out to National League One side Tonbridge Juddians RFC. His first appearance for the side coming in a tight 28-31 win over Sedgley Park RUFC.[10][11]
England U18
In September 2024, he was invited to the England U18 front-five camp squad.[12] Then in October 2024, Bland was called up to a 60-man England U18 development camp at Bisham Abbey.[13] Later in November he joined up again at Bisham Abbey for another England U18 training camp.[14] He was also named in the final training squad ahead of the Under-18 Six Nations Fesitival.[15]
His debut for the under-18 side came against Ireland under-18 in a friendly in Cork ahead of the Under-18 Six Nations Fesitival.[16] He played in all of England matches in the Under-18 Six Nations Fesitival, coming off the bench against France and Scotland, while starting against Spain.[17][18][19]
References
- ^ "Sam Bland Player Profile". Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ "Bishop Burton Rugby Academy student signs professional contact with Harlequins Rugby Club". Bishop Burton College. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ "SENIOR ACADEMY INTAKE CONFIRMED FOR 2025/26". 12 May 2025. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ "Premiership Rugby Cup - Match report Leicester vs Harlequins, le 21/02/2026". all.rugby. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ "Settle College". Settle College. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ "Travelling squad confirmed for Cornwall camp". 3 March 2026. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ "Report: Quins topple Pirates in Penzance". Harlequins F.C. 7 March 2026. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ "Round Three Review: Testing Weather Conditions Fail to Halt Thrilling Weekend of Action – National League Rugby". Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ a b "Player Stats | Rugby Football Union". www.englandrugby.com. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ "Match centre | Rugby Football Union". www.englandrugby.com. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ Carpenter, Will (25 September 2024). "Seven Bears selected for England Pathway dual camp". Bristol Bears Rugby. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ "Six U18 players named for England development training camp | Bath Rugby". www.bathrugby.com. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ "England U18 Men name November training squad | Rugby Football Union". www.englandrugby.com. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ "Five Saracens named in England U18 Training Camp". Saracens. 20 February 2025. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ "England U18 Men name side to take on Ireland | Rugby Football Union". www.englandrugby.com. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ "England U18 Men team to play France in Six Nations Festival". www.englandrugby.com. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ "Report: England U18 v Scotland U18". Scottish Rugby. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ "England U18 | Townsend to start against Spain". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 10 March 2026.