{{short description|Wales international rugby union footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Ashley Beck | image = ST vs Ospreys 08-12-120074.JPG | caption = | birth_name = Ashley Beck | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1990|4|15}} | birth_place = Neath, Wales | death_date = | death_place = | school = Dwr-y-Felin Comprehensive School | university = Neath College | height = {{convert|191|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|103|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}} | position = Centre | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | ru_amupdate = | repteam1 = {{nrut|Wales}} | repyears1 = 2012–2013 | repcaps1 = 7 | reppoints1 = 10 | ru_ntupdate = 18 March 2023 | years1 = 2007–2018 | years2 = 2018–2022 | years3 = 2022– | clubs1 = Ospreys | clubs2 = Worcester Warriors | clubs3 = Merthyr RFC | apps1 = 104 | apps2 = 60 | apps3 = 0 | points1 = 105 | points2 = 40 | points3 = 0 | clubupdate = 18 March 2023 | coachyears1 = 2023– | coachteams1 = Worcester Warriors Women ''(attack coach)'' }}
'''Ashley Beck''' is a Wales international rugby union player. Beck currently played for Merthyr RFC, and has previously played for Worcester Warriors and the Ospreys. He has represented Wales and Wales U20. He is the current attack coach of Premiership Women's Rugby side Worcester Warriors Women.<ref name="Warriors Women Attack Coach">{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/66111450 | title=Ashley Beck: Worcester Women appoint former Wales international as attack coach | publisher=BBC Sport | date=5 July 2023 | access-date=5 July 2023 | language=en-UK}}</ref>
== Club career == Beck progressed through the Ospreys academy teams, making his debut for Aberavon RFC in the Welsh Premiership at age 17 in October 2007, scoring a try on that debut. He played 63 times for Aberavon before establishing himself in the Ospreys senior squad.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/16131002 Beck summary]. BBC Sport</ref>
In early 2014, Beck signed a two-year extension to his Ospreys contract.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Wales' Beck signs new Ospreys contract |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/26168279 |access-date=2023-03-18}}</ref> Beck suffered an ACL rupture in the opening round of the 2015–16 Pro12, forcing him to miss most of the season.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Injured Beck out for eight months |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/34195935 |access-date=2023-03-18}}</ref> Beck extended his contract again in 2016, taking him to the end of the 2017–18 season.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ospreys centre Ashley Beck signs new deal |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/36086722 |access-date=2023-03-18}}</ref> A pre-season shoulder injury forced Beck into a significant layoff in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ospreys' Beck faces injury lay-off |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/40941281 |access-date=2023-03-18}}</ref>
On 13 February 2018, Beck departed the Ospreys to join English club Worcester Warriors in the Aviva Premiership ahead of the 2018–19 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/ashley-beck-quits-ospreys-worcester-14283614|publisher=Wales Online|title=Ashley Beck quits Ospreys for Worcester Warriors|date=13 February 2018|accessdate=11 March 2018}}</ref> Beck broke his leg in October 2018, and missed the remainder of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Woolford |first=Anthony |date=2018-10-14 |title=Wales centre breaks his leg in latest horrific blow to his career |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/wales-centre-breaks-leg-latest-15279200 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}}</ref> He extended his contract with Worcester in early 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nolan |first=Lawrence |date=2022-05-26 |title=Premiership: Ashley Beck extends Worcester contract |url=https://www.planetrugby.com/premiership-ashley-beck-extends-worcester-contract |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=PlanetRugby |language=en}}</ref>
On 5 October 2022 all Worcester players had their contacts terminated due to the liquidation of the company to which they were contracted.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Worcester player and staff contracts terminated after high court ruling {{!}} Worcester {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/oct/05/worcester-player-and-staff-contracts-terminated-after-high-court-ruling-rugby-union |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=amp.theguardian.com}}</ref>
Beck signed with Merthyr RFC following his departure from Worcester.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/63334605|title=Ashley Beck: Ex-Wales centre joins Merthyr after Worcester Warriors departure|work=BBC Sport|date=20 October 2022|access-date=20 October 2022}}</ref>
Ahead of the 2022–23 Champions Cup, Beck was registered with Cardiff Rugby.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orders |first=Mark |date=2022-12-09 |title=Wales international named in Cardiff's European squad after being made redundant |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-international-named-cardiffs-european-25717652 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}}</ref>
==International career== In 2009 and 2010, Beck represented Wales U20 at the IRB Under 20 Championship as well as featuring in the 2009 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-01-06 |title=Wales name U20 squad |url=https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/2009/01/06/wales-name-u20-squad/ |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=Six Nations Rugby |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In January 2012 Beck was called into the Wales 35 man senior squad for the training camp in Poland prior to the 2012 Six Nations Championship.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/16611388 Wales squad callup]</ref> He made his international debut on 9 June 2012 versus Australia in Brisbane as a second-half replacement. Beck started against Samoa in the 2012 end-of-year rugby union internationals and scored his first try for Wales.
An ankle injury ruled Beck out of the subsequent 2013 Six Nations.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Beck out, but Owens boosts Wales |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/20990423 |access-date=2023-03-18}}</ref> Another injury forced Beck to miss the 2013 Wales rugby union tour of Japan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-06-19 |title=Beck raring to go - Welsh Rugby Union |url=https://www.wru.wales/2013/06/beck-raring-to-go/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Welsh Rugby Union {{!}} Wales & Regions |language=en-GB}}</ref> Beck was selected for the Wales squad for the 2013 end-of-year rugby union internationals, coming off the bench against South Africa and Argentina, while starting against Tonga and scoring his second test try.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Averis |first=Mike |date=2013-11-22 |title=Wales overcome Tonga after Owen Williams and Ashley Beck lead way |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/nov/22/wales-tonga-autumn-internationals-match-report |access-date=2023-03-18 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The match against Tonga was to be Beck's last Welsh cap.
Beck did not participate in the 2014 Six Nations, with a persistent hip injury affecting his training, forcing him to rule himself out the tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |last=WalesOnline |date=2014-03-13 |title=Ashley Beck insists he still has Wales ambitions after pulling out of Six Nations squad |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/ashley-beck-insists-still-wales-6809425 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}}</ref> The injury kept Beck out of the contention for the 2014 Wales rugby union tour of South Africa and 2014 end-of-year rugby union internationals.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Centre Beck set for Ospreys return |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/29794392 |access-date=2023-03-18}}</ref>
===International tries=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%" |- ! Try !! Opponent !! Location !! Venue !! Competition !! Date !! Result |- | 1 || {{ru|SAM}} || Cardiff, Wales || Millennium Stadium || 2012 Autumn Internationals || {{dts|format=dmy|2012|November|16}} || Loss |- | 2 || {{ru|TON}} || Cardiff, Wales || Millennium Stadium || 2013 Autumn Internationals || {{dts|format=dmy|2013|November|22}} || Win |- |}
== Coaching career == In July 2023, Beck was announced as the attack coach of Premiership Women's Rugby side Worcester Warriors Women.<ref name="Warriors Women Attack Coach"/>
==References== <references/>
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20101222091249/http://ospreysrugby.com/squad/index.php?player=85293&includeref=dynamic Ospreys profile] *[https://warriors.co.uk/teams/ashley-beck/ Worcester Warriors profile] *[https://www.wru.wales/player/?PlayGuid=MB541535 Wales profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beck, Ashley}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:Ospreys (rugby union) players Category:21st-century Welsh sportsmen Category:Rugby union players from Neath Category:Wales international rugby union players Category:Welsh rugby union players Category:Worcester Warriors players Category:Rugby union centres Category:Merthyr RFC players