CLUB Bristol Rugby
POSITION Prop
Darren Crompton began his first-class career with Bath in 1993 and stayed with the club for three years before making 62 appearances for Richmond until 1999 when he began his first spell with Bristol. After four seasons there, he switched to Cardiff Blues but returned to the Memorial Stadium for the 2004-05 season, signing a two-year contract that was renewed in the spring of 2006. He played for England Under-16s, captained the Under-18s in all five matches in 1991, also led the Under-21s and won honours for England Saxons, a testimony to his powerful scrummaging and combative play. He had initially broken into the national schools side while studying at Exmouth Community College, represented England in the 1992 World Students Cup and toured Australia and Fiji with England A in 1995, making his debut at that level against South Australia. Went on to tour the Southern Hemisphere with the full England squad in 1998.
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Darren had the pleasure of being man of the match when Bristol beat Bath, one of his former clubs, 16-6 in front of a record Guinness Premiership crowd at Ashton Gate, Bristol in December last year. He is among the ‘Three Musketeers’ in Bristol’s experienced pack – Roy Winters, 31, and Mark Regan, 35, being the others in the England tour party. Darren appeared for the same England Schools 18-Group team as Regan and Kyran Bracken in 1990. He first attracted Bath’s attention when playing for the South West Under-21s and made his club debut against Newbridge in March 1993. He had already played his first senior divisional match as a replacement against London the previous December. Darren’s distinctions away from rugby include winning a national gold medal for judo at the age of 13.
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