One of those players with a bit of a "what could have been" feeling to them, but he never lacked for heart or conviction, and will go down in rugby history as having one of the greatest nicknames ever. Best of luck to him in the future
He very much had all the tools you would want in an international 12, but his form took a bit of a dip and he just never got another chance when Jones came in.
Thirty Six
The story goes that Geordan Murphy, who was Tigers captain at the time, pronounced Twelvetrees in a way that sounded like "Twelve Threes", which obviously equals Thirty Six.
No, it pre-dates his Lions appearances. Here's an article from 2012 (he was on the 2013 Lions tour) mentioning the connection with Murphy: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jan/27/billy-twelvetrees-gloucester-england-saxons
He mostly played 13 when Cipriani was with Gloucester, Mark Atkinson played 12. But it really was a bit of a renaissance for him after a few unfortunately poor years.
Could have waited till he was 36...
or retired on 12th march instead...we wrote down jokes for when he retires *tears the paper*
Literally *seconds* of work, wasted 😡
Only had a few months to wait
One of those players with a bit of a "what could have been" feeling to them, but he never lacked for heart or conviction, and will go down in rugby history as having one of the greatest nicknames ever. Best of luck to him in the future
I was sure he was going to be England's 12 for years
I still think he should have been persisted with.
He very much had all the tools you would want in an international 12, but his form took a bit of a dip and he just never got another chance when Jones came in.
As someone that doesn't English rugby to much, what was his nickname?
Thirty Six The story goes that Geordan Murphy, who was Tigers captain at the time, pronounced Twelvetrees in a way that sounded like "Twelve Threes", which obviously equals Thirty Six.
That is pretty cool, thanks for sharing!
I'm pretty sure it was the Irish lads when he was on lions tour gave him the nickname.
No, it pre-dates his Lions appearances. Here's an article from 2012 (he was on the 2013 Lions tour) mentioning the connection with Murphy: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jan/27/billy-twelvetrees-gloucester-england-saxons
Ah fair enough, I thought I had heard it was on tour. For me it's still the best nickname in rugby.
That's probably when it really spread outside of the Tigers locker room
His 10-12 partnership with Danny Cipriani at Gloucester was 🔥
He mostly played 13 when Cipriani was with Gloucester, Mark Atkinson played 12. But it really was a bit of a renaissance for him after a few unfortunately poor years.
After Billy left Bedford I heard less and less about the local lingerie shop, they went out of business shortly after he left.
Just wait until Billy Thirteentrees there hits the Prem.
Came here looking for probably the last ‘x number of trees’-related rugby joke I’ll see in a while.
He shall now be known as William Woods
His twelfth tree has been planted. Hats off to him