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Kieron Lewitt (born 1985) is an English former rugby union footballer who played at full back or on the wing. Nicknamed Chewy, he is a former England youth international who has Premiership experience with Bath, but is best known for his two spells with Launceston, where he became club captain. An excellent points kicker, he was one of the most prolific scorers of all-time in National League 2 South with over 1,000 points, and his performances have seen him representing Cornwall in the county championships. Since being forced to retire due to injury in 2015, Keiron had spell at Launceston as backs coach.

Career

Early career

Born in Plymouth, Devon, Keiron started playing youth rugby in Cornwall for his local side, Launceston. At 16 he left Cornwall to attend Colston's Collegiate in Bristol, where he was part of the school rugby team that were named by Rugby World Magazine as Team of the Year in 2003, counting the likes of Tom Varndell as his teammates. His performances in school rugby would see signed by Bath for their academy and he would also gain caps for England at under-16, under-18 and under-19 levels, culminating in him going to the 2005 Under 19 Rugby World Championship where England made the semi-finals.

Keiron made his Premiership debut with Bath in September 2004 away to Harlequins, where he scored a try with his first touch of the ball, as his side went on to win 18–10. Despite scoring on his debut against Quins, he would only make one more Premiership appearance with Bath before going on loan back at boyhood club Launceston in January 2005, then playing in National 2. He spent a year at Launceston, being part of the side that won the 2005 Cornwall Cup before leaving in 2007 to play rugby in the United States. After a brief spell in the States, Keiron returned to England and signed with Canterbury, playing in National Division 3 South and helping them to win the Kent Cup in 2008.

Second Spell with Launceston

For the 2009–10 season, Keiron returned to Cornwall to sign terms with Launceston in what was his third spell with the All-Blacks, having also played for them as a boy. Keiron had a good season, making 20 league appearances and scoring 11 tries, as his side finished 3rd in what was a very competitive National League 1. While his first season back with the club had been a positive season, the next season would be a nightmare for both Keiron and Launceston, as first his club were docked 20 points due to going into liquidation, and then Keiron broke his leg in a league game in September. Keiron returned from injury during the latter half of the season but could not help his club overturn the points deduction as they ended up being relegated from the division.

Despite the disappointment of relegation to National League 2 South, the 2011–12 season would see Keiron have the best scoring season of his career, ending up as the 2nd highest scorer in the league with 310 points, in a Launceston side that finished 7th in the league. He would also be called up for the Cornish Pirates British and Irish Cup squad, although he only made one appearance for the Championship side. The 2012–13 season would see Keiron continue his good form as he once again finished 2nd in the league scoring charts with 262 points in a mid-table Launceston side, and was awarded club Player of the Year and the Supporters' Player of the Year. Keiron's consistency with the boot continued into the 2013–14 season, as he finished 4th on the division scoring charts with 251 points, helping his club win the Cornwall Super Cup, and earning him a call-up to the Cornish county rugby side for the 2014 Bill Beaumont Cup – making his county debut in the traditional Tamar Cup against Devon – which Cornwall won 17 – 0 with Keiron kicking 3 penalties. At the county championships, Keiron played in all four of Cornwall's games, scoring 47 points, as they finished eventual runners up to Lancashire who they lost to 26 – 36 in the final at Twickenham.

The 2014–15 season would see Keiron appointed as captain of the club. Although he had a good personal tally of 257 league points and his side looked to be one of the most talented for several years, Launceston failed to club break into the top 6 in the league, finishing 10th, a point behind rivals Redruth. This season would also be Keiron's last as he suffered damage to his knee ligaments during the final home game of the season against Taunton Titans. Initially, it had been hoped that he might take part in the 2015–16 season but unfortunately his recovery was not successful. Keiron would continue at the club as a backs coach.

Season-by-season playing stats

Club

County/Representative

Honours and records

Launceston

• Cornwall Cup winner: 2004–05
• Player of the Year: 2012–13
• Supporters’ Player of the Year: 2012–13
• Cornwall Super Cup winner: 2013–14

Canterbury

• Kent Cup winner: 2007–08

Cornwall

• Bill Beaumont Cup runner up: 2014

International

• Represented England at under-16, under-18 and under-19 levels

References

1. "KIERON LEWITT". ESPN. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
2. "National Two South All time leading top scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 30 April 2016.
3. "Rugby World Magazine Team of the Year: Colston's Collegiate". Colston's School. 1 July 2003.
4. "England squad travel to South Africa". ESPN. 18 March 2004.
5. "Lewitt leaves hapless Quins in his wake". The Independent. 25 September 2004.
6. "Fourth straight Kent Cup win for Canterbury". Kent Online. 28 April 2008.
7. "All Blacks add quartet". Cornwall Live. 5 June 2009.
8. "Launceston given 20-point deduction by RFU". BBC News. 31 August 2010.
9. "Dead ex-leisure chief's son breaks leg in game". Cornwall Live. 29 September 2010.
10. "National Two South 11/12 Leading scorers". Statbunker. 28 April 2012.
11. "Cornish Pirates 50 Bristol 22". Cornish Pirates. 24 September 2011.
12. "Cornish All Blacks star Lewitt ends great season with two awards". Cornwall Live. 28 May 2013.
13. "Cornwall run out comfortable winners in Tamar Cup clash". Western Morning News. 30 April 2014.
14. "CORNWALL GAMES 2014 SEASON". TRELAWNY'S ARMY. 10 May 2014.
15. "More Twickenham heartbreak for Cornwall". Cornwall Live. 1 June 2014.
16. "Injury forces Lewitt to call it a day on his rugby career". Holsworthy Post. 12 January 2016.
17. "Kieron Lewitt Record by competition". Rugby Statbunker. 25 April 2015.
18. "Tamar Cup: Cornwall beat Devon to retain trophy". North Devon Journal. 1 May 2014.
19. "CORNWALL GAMES 2014 SEASON". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 17 February 2017.

External links

• Launceston Rugby Club
• Cornwall RFU

• 1985 births
• Living people
• English rugby union players
• Cornish Pirates players
• Canterbury rugby union players
• Rugby union players from Plymouth, Devon
• Bath Rugby players
• Rugby union fullbacks
• Rugby union wings