Joseph Carpenter (born 19 August 2001) is an English

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

player who plays for

Premiership Rugby Premiership Rugby, officially known as Gallagher Premiership Rugby, or the Gallagher Premiership for sponsorship reasons, is an English professional rugby union competition. The Premiership has consisted of thirteen clubs since 2021, and is the ...

club

Sale Sharks Sale Sharks is a professional rugby union club from Greater Manchester, England. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby. Originally founded in 1861 as Sale Football Club, now a distinct amateur club, they adopted the n ...

. He plays primarily as a fullback.

Early life

Carpenter was born in Leeds. He attended

Lawnswood School Lawnswood School is a mixed secondary school and sixth form located in the Lawnswood area of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. The school was founded in 1972 and had its first comprehensive intake in 1974. Its predecessors were the Leed ...

before then moving to

Woodhouse Grove School Woodhouse Grove School ('The Grove') is an independent, co-educational, day and boarding public school and Sixth Form. it is located to the north of Apperley Bridge, West Yorkshire, England (Apperley Bridge is located in the City of Bradfor ...

. He began playing rugby at the age of five, playing for

West Park Leeds RUFC West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth. Etymology The word "west" is a Germanic word passed into some R ...

. Carpenter joined the

Leeds Carnegie Leeds Carnegie was a brand name used by several sports teams associated with the Carnegie School of Physical Education, now part of Leeds Beckett University. These include: Current * Leeds Carnegie Handball Club Changed name * Leeds Carnegie (ba ...

academy at the age of 15.

Club career

Carpenter signed for Sale Sharks in August 2019. He made his debut for the club off the bench in the

European Rugby Champions Cup The European Rugby Champions Cup (known as the Heineken Champions Cup for sponsorship reasons) is an annual rugby union tournament organised by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR). It is the top-tier competition for clubs who compete in a pre ...

in January 2020, in a 30–23 loss to La Rochelle. He then made his first start on 18 January in the same competition against

Glasgow Warriors Glasgow Warriors are a professional rugby union side from Scotland. The team plays in the United Rugby Championship league and in the European Professional Club Rugby tournaments. In the 2014–15 season they won the Pro12 title and became t ...

. In March 2021 he joined Nottingham Rugby on dual registration. He started in Nottingham's opening fixture against Ealing Trailfinders. He also featured for Sale in this time period, starting against Wasps in the Premiership Rugby Cup and scoring his first try for the club, on 29 March, in a win against Harlequins - also in the cup. In October 2021 Carpenter was dual registered with Sale FC, making his debut against Taunton Titans. Carpenter made his Premiership Rugby debut on 1 October 2022, playing at the

Salford City Stadium Salford City Stadium (referred to as the AJ Bell Stadium for sponsorship purposes) is a rugby stadium in Barton-upon-Irwell, England, built to replace Salford rugby league club's ground the Willows for the 2012 season. Sale Sharks rugby unio ...

against Exeter Chiefs. He scored his first Premiership try in the fixture, which Sale won 28–20. Carpenter was voted the Rugby Player's Association 15 under 23 MVP of the month for October 2022, after scoring 3 tries in 5 appearances.

International career

Carpenter was selected for England U16 in April 2017, playing in a 41–22 win over Wales. He was then named in an England U17 training squad in February 2018, although he did not ultimately feature for the side. In April 2019 Carpenter was named as part of England's squad for the U18 Six Nations festival, starting against Wales. He was then named as part of the England U20 elite player squad for 2021, although he did not feature for the side. In June 2024 Carpenter was called up to the senior England squad for a training camp.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carpenter, Joe 2001 births Living people Sale Sharks players English rugby union players Nottingham R.F.C. players Rugby union fullbacks Rugby union players from Leeds People educated at Lawnswood School People educated at Woodhouse Grove School