Dab solver - Alan Dickens (rugby union)

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Applying English Wikipedia commonfixes
Using redirect [[Half-back (rugby union)|Scrum Half]] for [[Rugby union positions#9. Scrum-half|Scrum Half]]
Using redirect [[Half-back (rugby union)|scrum half]] for [[Rugby union positions#9. Scrum-half|scrum half]]

| occupation = 
| spouse = 
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| university = [[Worcester University]]) 
| website = 
}}

Alan Dickens (born 2 April 1976 in ) is a retired [[rugby union]] footballer who last played at [[Half-back (rugby union)|scrum half]] for [[Northampton Saints]], having previously represented [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]], [[Sale Sharks]] and [[Leeds Carnegie]] after experience in the national leagues with [[Manchester Rugby Club]] and [[Stourbridge R.F.C.]]. He also spent a period during his Saracens career, coaching boys from Merchant Taylors School.

== Early life ==

Dickens was born 2 April 1978 in , Merseyside the bedrock  of English International scrum halves, including the legendary Pat Nagle . He trained to be a teacher, teaching at [[Chellaston Foundation School and Technology College]] after graduating from [[Worcester University|University College Worcester]]. He first experienced rugby in England's national leagues playing for [[Stourbridge R.F.C.]] and then [[Manchester Rugby Club]] in [[National Division Two]], for whom he appeared in all but one game in his final season with the club. In 2001 he faced the choice between pursuing a teaching career and one in professional rugby, opting for the latter and joining [[Guinness Premiership]] side [[Sale Sharks]].^ref

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{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Alan Dickens
| image = Alan Dickens - Northampton Saints vs Sale October 2009Northampton Saints.jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = 
| birth_name = Alan Dickens
| nickname = Dicko
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1976|04|02}}
| birth_place = [[Knowsley, Merseyside|Knowsley]], [[Merseyside]], [[England]]
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| height = 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
| weight = 12 st 8 lbs (80 kg)
| ru_position = [[Half-back (rugby union)|Scrum Half]]
| ru_amateuryears = To 2001
| ru_amateurclubs = [[Manchester Rugby Club]] [[Stourbridge R.F.C.]]
| ru_amclubcaps = 
| ru_amclubpoints = 
| ru_amupdate = 1 December 2007
| ru_clubyears = 2001–2002 2002–2005 2005–2008 2008–
| ru_proclubs = [[Sale Sharks]] [[Leeds Carnegie|Leeds Tykes]] [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] [[Northampton Saints]]
| ru_clubcaps = 18 72 40 14
| ru_clubpoints = (0) (45) (0) (0)
| ru_clubupdate = 4 November 2009
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'''Alan Dickens''' (born 2 April 1976 in <<link:0>>) is a retired [[rugby union]] footballer who last played at [[Half-back (rugby union)|scrum half]] for [[Northampton Saints]], having previously represented [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]], [[Sale Sharks]] and [[Leeds Carnegie]] after experience in the national leagues with [[Manchester Rugby Club]] and [[Stourbridge R.F.C.]]. He also spent a period during his Saracens career, coaching boys from Merchant Taylors School.

==Early life==
Dickens was born 2 April 1978 in <<link:1>>, Merseyside the bedrock of English International scrum halves, including the legendary Pat Nagle . He trained to be a teacher, teaching at [[Chellaston Foundation School and Technology College]] after graduating from [[Worcester University|University College Worcester]]. He first experienced rugby in England's national leagues playing for [[Stourbridge R.F.C.]] and then [[Manchester Rugby Club]] in [[National Division Two]], for whom he appeared in all but one game in his final season with the club. In 2001 he faced the choice between pursuing a teaching career and one in professional rugby, opting for the latter and joining [[Guinness Premiership]] side [[Sale Sharks]].<ref name="leedsprofile">{{cite news |title=Leeds Profile |publisher=Leeds Carnegie |date=2007-12-01 |url=http://www.leedscarnegie.co.uk/index_F06ABC401C6048A2B4799983F5DFA0BD.htm |accessdate=2007-12-01 }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

==Playing career==

===Sale Sharks 2001–02===
Dickens played for a single season at [[Sale Sharks]] in the 2001–02 season. He largely filled the role of understudy to Scottish international [[Bryan Redpath]] but still accumulated 18 first team appearances, including 10 starting berths. Many of these were in cup fixtures, but did include 3 [[Guinness Premiership|Zurich Premiership]] starts, and a further 8 from the replacements bench.<ref name="leedsprofile"/><ref name="leedsprofile">{{cite news |title=Guinness Premiership Profile |publisher=Guinness Premiership |date=2007-12-01 |url=http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/112_146.php?player=4501&includeref=dynamic |accessdate=2007-12-01 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071213231859/http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/112_146.php?player=4501&includeref=dynamic  |archivedate = 2007-12-13}}</ref>

===Leeds Tykes 2002–05===
Dickens joined the then [[Leeds Tykes|Leeds Carnegie]] at in August 2002, initially as short term cover for an injury crisis that was afflicting the club at the time, making his début against [[Leicester Tigers]] on 31 August 2002. His progress was so rapid though that he was soon making regular first team appearances and in his second and third seasons with the club became the first choice for the number 9 shirt.

He made 72 first team appearances for the Tykes in his three years with the club and culminated with a [[EDF Energy Cup|Powergen Cup]] winners medal having played in the Tykes victory over [[Bath Rugby|Bath]] at [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]] in the 2005 final.

The cup win was to be a rare high point for Leeds though as at the end of that season they were relegated from the Premiership and Dickens left the club to seek further top flight competition at Saracens.

===Saracens 2005–2008===
Dickens made a rapid return to Twickenham for his début appearance for [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] in the season opening London Double Header game against [[London Wasps]] on 3 September 2005.<ref name="saracensprofile">{{cite news |title=Saracens Profile |publisher=Saracens |date=2007-12-01 |url=http://www.saracens.com/players/view.php?Id=160 |accessdate=2007-12-01 }}</ref>

In his time at Saracens he saw strong competition for first team spots from the likes of Fijian International [[Mosese Rauluni]] and first England's [[Kyran Bracken]] and then former Springbok [[Neil de Kock]] on the former's retirement, but he maintained his form to bring a large number of appearances both from the bench and in starting line ups in his first two full seasons with the club.<ref name="saracensprofile"/>

===Northampton 2008–present===
Dickens signed for Northampton in April 2008 even though Saints had just recruited two new scrum halves in Lee Dickson and Ben Foden. Dickens is working alongside the two younger players and acting as a back-up but now with limited first team playing opportunities.

Dickens retired from playing in 2010 to take up a new role as the Saints' Academy manager.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.saracens.com/players/view.php?Id=160 Saracens profile]
* [http://www.leedscarnegie.co.uk/index_F06ABC401C6048A2B4799983F5DFA0BD.htm Leeds profile]
* [http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/112_146.php?player=4501&includeref=dynamic Guinness Premiership profile]

{{Persondata 
| NAME = Dickens, Alan
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = English rugby union player
| DATE OF BIRTH = 2 April 1976
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Knowsley, Merseyside|Knowsley]], [[Merseyside]], [[England]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dickens, Alan}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Worcester]]
[[Category:English rugby union players]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Rugby union scrum-halves]]
[[Category:Saracens F.C. players]]
[[Category:Stourbridge R.F.C. players]]

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Dab solver - Alan Dickens (rugby union)

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