Background
Before joining Coventry Johnson considered following his father"s career in the armed forces by the joining the Parachute Regiment, but instead choose to become a professional rugby player.
Before joining Coventry Johnson considered following his father"s career in the armed forces by the joining the Parachute Regiment, but instead choose to become a professional rugby player.
Tom was educated at Dean Close School, Cheltenham.
His position of choice is Flanker or Number eight. Johnson"s father was an officer in the Royal Air Force and was stationed at Royal Air Force Rheindahlen just outside Düsseldorf in Germany. Johnson started playing rugby with the based amateur club Chinnor then plying their trade in South West Division 1.
His form there led to him being called up by the county side who he helped to reach the Tetley"s County Shield final in 2003 - losing at Twickenham to Northumberland.
In 2004 Johnson joined Reading who had just gained promotion to National Division Three South from the division he had just been in with at Chinnor. At his new club Johnson played in all 28 of their National Three South and Cup matches, mostly at Number 8, and plundered 17 tries, helping the Berkshire side to 6th place in the league.
He bagged four in a game twice, against Dings Crusaders and Lydney. Johnson switched to Coventry the following season and along the way to becoming the first Reading player to excel on the professional stage since Ayoola Erinle, then a future centre.
During his Coventry days he scored an 80-metre try against Otley, this was an early indication of his nimble footwork for a big man and ability to finish moves from long range.
Johnson joined in 2007 and since then has been a regular on the Exeter teamsheet, He made his Exeter debut on 1 September 2007 against Sedgley Park. Johnson was a part of the Exeter team that gained promotion from the RFU Championship to the Aviva Premiership. Johnson became a key component in Exeter"s success and in 2011 was rewarded with an international callup.
On 2 January 2014, Johnson signed a three-year contract extension to stay with until 2016/17 season.
In 2012 Johnson was selected for "s tour to South Africa. Johnson started all three games for against South Africa.
Foreign his first cap on the tour of South Africa in June 2012, Johnson became the first full international from Exeter Rugby Club since Martin Underwood in 1964. Johnson went onto represent against Fiji and Australia in the Autumn internationals.
Johnson returned to the team when he was called up for the tour to Argentina and Uruguay in 2013.