{{Short description|Australian rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=December 2015}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Hugh Roach | image = Hugh Roach 2017.jpg | caption = Roach as a member of the New South Wales Waratahs in 2017 | fullname = Hugh Roach | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|09|11|df=y}} | birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | height = {{convert|178|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name=tahs-profile /> | weight = {{convert|110|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}} | nickname = | occupation = | school = Newington College | university = | relatives = | position = Hooker | currentclub = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2013–2018 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Waratahs}} | apps1 =60 | points1 = 50 | years2 = 2014–2017 | clubs2 = Greater Sydney Rams | apps2 = 16 | points2 = 25 | years3 = 2019 | clubs3 = {{Rut|Rebels}} | apps3 = 8 | points3 = 0 | years4 = 2019 | clubs4 = {{Rut|Tasman}} | apps4 = 10 | points4 = 20 | years5 = 2020 | clubs5 = {{Rut|Crusaders}} | apps5 = 1 | points5 = 0 | years6 = 2021–2022 | clubs6 = Austin Gilgronis | apps6 = 23 | points6 = 70 | years7 = 2021 | clubs7 = USA Perpignan | apps7 = 15 | points7 = 0 | years8 = 2023 | clubs8 = Chicago Hounds | apps8 = 6 | points8 = 15 | years9 = 2024- | clubs9 = San Diego Legion | apps9 = 11 | points9 = 0 | amatyears1 = 2012–2018 | amatteam1 = Eastwood | amatapps1 = 85 | amatpoints1 = 120 | repyears1 = 2009–2010 | repteam1 = Australia Schoolboys | repcaps1 = 11 | reppoints1 = 35 | repyears2 = 2011–2012 | repteam2 = Australia Under 20 | repcaps2 = 10 | reppoints2 = 20 | clubupdate = 17 March 2023 | repupdate = 14 July 2016 }}
'''Hugh Roach''' (born 11 September 1992) is an Australian rugby union professional player who plays hooker for the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby (MLR) in the United States. He also plays for the USA Perpignan of Top 14 (France).<ref name= tahs-profile/><ref name= itsrugby-stats/>
==Family and early life== Roach was born in Sydney. He played his junior rugby at Hunters Hill Rugby Club, and attended Newington College. His father, Graham Roach, was also a first grade rugby player who played at hooker for Western Suburbs in the Shute Shield competition.<ref name = hhrufc-2009/>
Roach was an Australia Schoolboys representative in 2009 and 2010,<ref name=tahs-profile/> and is currently the equal most capped schools rugby player in Australia.<ref name = asru-2011/> He was also a member of the Australia Under 20 side for both the 2011 where he made 3 appearances (Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand) and 2012 IRB Junior World Championships where he was capped a further 4 times ( Scotland, Argentina, France twice).<ref name= irb-jwc-profile/><ref name= aus-u20-2012/>
==Rugby career== Roach initially made his name playing for Eastwood in the Shute Shield competition and was named Shute Shield Rookie of the Year after the 2013 tournament. This good form saw him picked by the Western Force for their match against the British and Irish Lions in June 2013.<ref name= tahs-profile/>
He made the Waratahs extended playing squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season as third-choice hooker behind Tatafu Polota-Nau and Tolu Latu. An injury to Latu in the latter stages of the season saw Roach earn his first Super Rugby cap as a second-half substitute in the Waratahs 41-13 victory over the {{Rut|Lions}} on 18 May 2014.<ref name= sarugby-tahs-lions-2014/>
The 2015 season brought further success on the field with Roach earning a further 6 Super Rugby caps for the Waratahs .In the domestic club competition, he added another Shute Shield grand final win (his second in three GF appearances) in a performance that saw him voted the Man of the Match by the TV broadcast team.
The 2016 season saw Roach earn a further 13 appearances for the Waratahs. With a total of 21 super appearances under his belt the Tahs prioritized the re-signing of Roach in June 2016 committing him for a further 2 seasons at Moore Park. In 2017 he earned a further 9 caps for the Waratahs taking his career total Super rugby caps to 30 at the conclusion of the 2017 season. In season 2018 Roach continued his good form making a further 9 appearances in the first 10 rounds of the Super Rugby competition including stand out performances against the {{rut|Stormers}} from Cape Town, the {{rut|Sharks}} in Durban and 70 minutes of high energy play against the competition leaders the {{rut|Crusaders}} in Christchurch.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}
2019 saw a move to Melbourne Rebels where Roach added a further 8 super caps to his record taking his total to 49. He took up a playing contract with Tasman Mako in New Zealand's Mitre 10 Cup later that year where he played 10 games then signed a contract to play for London Irish in the UK Premiership but that was terminated because of Roach having a foot injury. Roach then came to the {{rut|Crusaders}} in a rush to find a replacement hooker and made his debut off the bench against the {{rut|Sunwolves}}.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}
==References== <references>
<ref name = hhrufc-2009>{{cite web |date= 2 November 2009 |accessdate= 25 May 2014 |title= Young gun Roach is Europe bound |publisher= Hunters Hill Rugby |url= http://www.huntershillrugby.org.au/news/newsItems/091103juniorRepAustralia.htm |url-status= dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525010101/http://www.huntershillrugby.org.au/news/newsItems/091103juniorRepAustralia.htm |archivedate= 25 May 2014}} </ref>
<ref name=asru-2011>{{cite web |year = 2011 |accessdate = 26 May 2014 |title = Players with three or more "Caps" for the period 1973-2011 |publisher = Australian Schools Rugby Union |url = http://austschools.rugbynet.com.au/default.asp?id=95976 |url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140225221850/http://austschools.rugbynet.com.au/default.asp?id=95976 |archivedate = 25 February 2014 |df = dmy-all }} </ref>
<ref name= tahs-profile>{{cite web | url=http://www.nswwaratahs.com.au/waratahs/squad/playerdetail/pid/214/player/hugh-roach | title=Hugh Roach Waratahs Player Profile | publisher=Waratahs Rugby | accessdate=19 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307180601/http://www.nswwaratahs.com.au/waratahs/squad/playerdetail/pid/214/player/hugh-roach | archive-date=7 March 2018 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name= itsrugby-stats>{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.fr/joueur_23714.html | title=Hugh Roach Player Statistics | publisher=itsrugby | accessdate=19 May 2014}} </ref>
<ref name= irb-jwc-profile>{{cite web | url=http://it.irb.com/jwc/teams/team=3221/player=42520/index.html | title=Hugh Roach IRB JWC Player Profile | publisher=IRB.com | accessdate=19 May 2014}} </ref>
<ref name= aus-u20-2012>{{cite web | url=http://www.rugby.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1699/ArticleID/6326/Australian-Under-20s-squad-named-for-2012.aspx | title=Australian Under 20s Squad Named for 2012 | publisher=Rugby Australia | date= 2 May 2012 | accessdate=19 May 2014}} </ref>
<ref name= sarugby-tahs-lions-2014>{{cite web | url=http://sarugby.net/matchbreakdown.aspx?id=114534&category=&leagueid=0&homeid=16264&awayid=16154&fullview=true | title=Waratahs vs Lions 18 May 2014 Match Breakdown | publisher=SA Rugby | accessdate=19 May 2014}} </ref>
</references>
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roach, Hugh}} Category:1992 births Category:People educated at Newington College Category:Australian rugby union players Category:New South Wales Waratahs players Category:Greater Sydney Rams players Category:Rugby union hookers Category:Rugby union players from Sydney Category:Living people Category:Tasman rugby union players Category:Melbourne Rebels players Category:Australian expatriate rugby union players in New Zealand Category:Crusaders (rugby union) players Category:Australian expatriate rugby union players in the United States Category:Austin Gilgronis players Category:USA Perpignan players Category:Chicago Hounds (rugby union) players Category:Eastwood Rugby Club players Category:San Diego Legion players Category:Australian expatriate rugby union players in France Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen