Benetton Rugby, official arrival of Marcus Watson

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Officer Marcus Watson

Benetton Rugby has announced the signing of Marcus Watson. The Englishman has signed a contract with the green-and-white franchise until June 30, 2024.

Marcus Watson is a ductile three-quarter who can play both wing and fullback indifferently, has distinct “finisher” qualities and an excellent footwork, corroborated by the many transformations scored in his career.

Watson was born in Hillingdon, England, on June 27, 1991, and is 177 cm tall and 88 kg. Raised at St George’s College, Weybridge, and older brother of England national Anthony Watson, Marcus is a nursery product of the prized London Irish academy. It was with the jersey of the London team, just 18 years old, that he made his Premiership debut against Bath. That same season, Marcus played in the Six Nations and the under-20 World Cup in an England jersey.

Since the 2010/2011 season, Watson has focused on 7-a-side rugby, unleashing his fine technical and speed qualities in the open field. He is thus part of the Saracens rugby sevens selection and for three consecutive years he is permanently on the England national sevens circuit, playing related World Cups and Grand Prix. Through 2016 he has collected a total of 180 caps and 65 tries with England Sevens, making several conversions and collecting 459 total points. Watson even boasts a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, when Great Britain was defeated only in the final by Fiji Islands.

In 2015 Marcus decided to rejoin 15-a-side rugby and moved to the Newcastle Falcons. He spent two years in the north of England, putting together 33 caps, including six in the Challenge Cup, and scoring 15 tries. Then for him the move to Wasps in 2017; with the Coventry formation he stayed for five consecutive seasons, getting to know Andrea Masi, the Lions’ current attack coach, as well. With the Wasps jersey, Marcus made 68 appearances, including six in the Champions Cup and five in Challenge, topped by 20 tries. Now for him the transfer to the green-and-white court.

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