# Will Addison

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**William Joseph Addison** (born 20 August 1992) is an English-born Irish international [rugby union](/source/Rugby_union) player who played as a utility back for [Sale Sharks](/source/Sale_Sharks), [Ulster](/source/Ulster_Rugby) and [Ireland](/source/Ireland_national_rugby_union_team). He is currently a player-coach at [Sale FC](/source/Sale_FC_Rugby_Club) in [National League 1](/source/National_League_1).

A product of the Sale Sharks academy,[1] Addison made his club debut for Sale in 2010.[2] He was part of the [England U20](/source/England_national_under-20_rugby_union_team) side which won the [Junior Six Nations](/source/2012_Six_Nations_Under_20s_Championship).[3] He also featured at the [2012 Junior World Cup](/source/2012_IRB_Junior_World_Championship).[4] He split time between his rugby career and studying for a degree in business studies, graduating in 2014.[5] He was named the Sharks' captain ahead of the 2017–18 season, having previously captained the side in the absence of [Josh Beaumont](/source/Josh_Beaumont).[6]

Addison is Irish-qualified through his [County Fermanagh](/source/County_Fermanagh)-born mother,[7] and grew up supporting Ireland.[8] His contract with Sale contained an option to leave if an Irish team approached him,[9] and he signed for Ulster ahead of the [2018–19 season](/source/2018%E2%80%9319_Ulster_Rugby_season) in pursuit of his ambitions to play international rugby.[2] He had a successful start to the season, initially at fullback, later at outside centre.[10] On 24 October 2018, he was named in the Ireland squad for the [November Internationals](/source/2018_end-of-year_rugby_union_internationals).[11] On 3 November 2018 he made his debut for Ireland against Italy.[12] He sustained a back injury in January 2019 that required surgery[10] and kept him out for fifteen months. He returned to action in April 2021, before his season was ended by a red card for a dangerous tackle against [Munster](/source/Munster_Rugby) in May.[13]

He started the [2021–22 season](/source/2021%E2%80%9322_Ulster_Rugby_season) strongly, playing four games and scoring a try,[14] before sustaining a fracture of the lower leg in October which again meant undergoing surgery.[15] He signed for Sale at the end of the 2023–24 season,[16] and left at the end of the season,[17] joining semi-professional side [Sale FC](/source/Sale_FC_Rugby_Club) as a player-coach.[18]

## References

1. ["Transfer News: Will Addison will leave Sale Sharks in the summer"](https://www.ruck.co.uk/transfer-news-will-addison-will-leave-sale-sharks-in-the-summer/), Ruck.co.uk, 30 March 2018

1. ["Will Addison: Ulster sign Irish-qualified Sale Sharks centre"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43597065). BBC Sport. 30 March 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.

1. ["U20 Six Nations"](http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/match/158080.html). ESPN Scrum. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2018.

1. ["Ireland U20 27-12 England U20"](https://www.worldrugby.org/match/12542). World Rugby. 17 June 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2018.

1. Emma Flanagan, ["Sale Sharks star graduates from university with top degree"](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/addison-sale-sharks-rugby-player-7397008), *Manchester Evening News*, 9 July 2014

1. Matthew Wood, ["Sale Sharks announce Will Addison as captain for upcoming season"](https://www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/sale-sharks-announce-will-addison-as-captain-for-upcoming-season/18625.htm), Talking Rugby Union, 9 August 2017

1. [Will Addison profile](https://www.rte.ie/sport/united-rugby-championship/ulster-player-profiles/2021/0909/1245613-will-addison/), RTÉ Sport, 13 September 2021

1. Gareth Hanna, ["Will Addison: I liked to stand out by supporting Ireland while growing up in England"](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/will-addison-i-liked-to-stand-out-by-supporting-ireland-while-growing-up-in-england-37502452.html), *Belfast Telegraph*, 7 November 2018

1. Ciarán Ó Raghallaigh, Owen Slot, [Irish option was in deal, says Will Addison"](https://www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-union/article/irish-option-was-in-deal-says-will-addison-mn8jlpq8v), *The Times*, 25 July 2018

1. ["Making an impact at Ulster Rugby"](https://www.thefrontrowunion.com/2019/05/making-an-impact-at-ulster-rugby/), The Front Row Union, 23 May 2019

1. ["Schmidt includes uncapped Addison as Murray misses out on Ireland squad"](http://www.the42.ie/joe-schmidt-ireland-november-squad-4302872-Oct2018/). *The 42*. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.

1. ["Will Addison hungers for more on international stage after Ireland debut"](https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/will-addison-hungers-more-international-stage-after-ireland-debut-551475), *News Letter*, 4 November 2018

1. ["Will Addison: Ulster back's season over after receiving four-match ban"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57104821), BBC Sport, 13 May 2021

1. [Playing statistics at ItsRugby.co.uk](https://www.itsrugby.co.uk/players/will-addison-22217.html)

1. Jonathan Bradley, ["Ulster’s luckless Will Addison sustains broken leg"](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/ulsters-luckless-will-addison-sustains-broken-leg-40960335.html), *Belfast Telegraph*, 18 October 2021

1. Neil Treacey, ["Ulster's Will Addison confirms Sale Sharks return"](https://www.rte.ie/sport/united-rugby-championship/2024/0528/1451662-ulsters-addison-confirms-sale-sharks-return/), RTÉ, 28 May 2024

1. ["Former Skipper Addison To Depart"](https://www.salesharks.com/2025/05/14/former-skipper-addison-to-depart/). *Sale Sharks*. 14 May 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2025.

1. Newcombe, Jon (25 July 2025). ["Former Ireland international Will Addison lands coaching role"](https://www.rugbypass.com/news/former-ireland-international-will-addison-lands-coaching-role/). *Rugby Pass*. Retrieved 25 July 2025.

## External links

- [Ulster Rugby profile](https://ulster.rugby/player/will-addison)
- [United Rugby Championship profile](https://www.unitedrugby.com/clubs/ulster/will-addison)
- [Ireland profile](https://www.irishrugby.ie/player/?PlayGuid=WA856278)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Will Addison](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Addison) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Addison?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.