Team Guide - England

Team Name: England
Playing Strip: White jerseys, white shorts
Website: www.rfu.com
Download: A printable version of the English team guide.

Rugby in England

England is currently enjoying one of the greatest, if not the greatest, periods in their rugby history.

The team assembled painstakingly over the last five years by Manager Clive Woodward includes some of the greatest players who have ever played for England - Captain Martin Johnson, Flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson, wing Ben Cohen and Number 8 Lawrence D'allglio.

The team has just come off an unprecedented 14 Test winning streak (which included two victories over the Wallabies, one against South Africa and one against the All Blacks), has beaten Australia in Australia and New Zealand in New Zealand and took the 2003 Six Nations in a "Grand Slam" by winning all five games.

They are currently ranked as the Number 1 team in the world and deservedly so.

According t Woodward, English Rugby is “changing”, and you only have to look the results since their 1999 Rugby World Cup campaign (where they lost to South Africa in the Quarter Finals) to see how far they have come.

They used to be known for their kicking dominated "ten-man" style of rugby where the forwards would win the ball so the Flyhalf could belt it downfield or attempt a Drop goal.

England are now exponents of some of the most dynamic rugby played on the planet with a squad of 22 super fit, highly skilled athletes who are fully prepared to run the ball from anywhere – often with stunning results.

England now represent the Northern Hemisphere's major hope to break the South's dominance of the Rugby World Cup.

They are prepared to take on anybody with their ball-in-hand style of rugby, and in recent years have beaten every major team in the world

Their home ground, the 73,000 seat Twickenham Stadium in London, which many regard as the spiritual home of rugby, has become a fortress.

The last time they tasted defeat at Twickenham was against New Zealand in the 1999 Rugby World Cup - four years ago

It is fitting that England has finally realised that a rugby ball is not only meant for kicking because it was in a town called Rugby, that the running game was born.

It was here at Rugby School in 1823 that a 17-year-old school boy by the name of William Webb Ellis, tiring with the afternoon game of football (soccer), “picked up the ball and ran with it”, thus giving birth to Rugby Football.

For his efforts his name is now used for the greatest prize in world rugby – the Webb Ellis Cup - given to the team that wins the Rugby World Cup.

The foundations for England’s current run of success in the late 1980s and early 1990s which saw a period of sustained triumph for England, with structures put in place to enable the national team to fight its weight on the world stage.

Now under the management of 1980 Grand Slam hero Woodward, England look to be in good health. The newly rekindled economic power of the Rugby Football Union (they now own Twickenham outright), combined with an excellent youth structure, is ensuring that the England team have an abundance of new talent and coaching expertise.

England will be more determined than ever in 2003. They were runners up to Australia in the 1991 World Cup, steamrolled by Jonah Lomu in the 1995 Semi Finals, and bundled out again in the 1999 Finals by Springbok Jannie de Beer’s orld ecord five drop goals.

With exciting players in their ranks, including a sizeable contingent of 2001 British and Irish Lions, England can be optimistic about their chances of winning the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

The future of the game post 2003 also looks promising with their national domestic competition, the Zurich Premiership, enjoying more public support and higher TV ratings than ever before.

Player numbers are also growing with 173,000 senior players and a staggering 460,000 registered juniors. There are also 46,000 qualified coaches and 5,100 referees officiating in matches between the 1,958 clubs drawn from 35 rugby provinces.

The future of the English game looks very “rosy” indeed.

Rugby World Cup 2003 Squad

Name Club Position
Stuart Abbott London Wasps Centre
Neil Back Leicester Tigers Flanker
Iain Balshaw Bath Fullback
Kyran Bracken Saracens Scrumhalf
Mike Catt Bath Flyhalf
Ben Cohen Northampton Saints Wing
Martin Corry Leicester Tigers Flanker
Lawrence Dallaglio London Wasps Number 8
Matt Dawson Northampton Saints Scrumhalf
Paul Grayson Northampton Saints Flyhalf
Will Greenwood Harlequins Centre
Danny Grewcock Bath Lock
Andy Gomersall Gloucester Scrumhalf
Richard Hill Saracens Flanker
Martin Johnson Leicester Tigers Lock
Ben Kay Leicester Tigers Lock
Jason Leonard Harlequins Prop
Josh Lewsey London Wasps Fullback
Dan Luger Perpignan Wing
Lewis Moody Leicester Tigers Flanker
Mark Regan Leeds Tykes Hooker
Jason Robinson SAle Fullback
Steve Thompson Northampton Saints Hooker
Mike Tindall Bath Centre
Phil Vickery Gloucester Prop
Dorian West Leicester Tigers Hooker
Julian White Leicester Tigers Prop
Jonny Wilkinson Newcastle Falcons Flyhalf
Trevor Woodman Gloucester Prop
Joe Worsley London Wasps Number 8

Coach

Clive Woodward

Clive Woodward, 46, was appointed as head coach (or Manager as he is most often known) to the England Rugby Team in 1997 and has recently been handed another five year contract to lead the national side into the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia and beyond.

He has largely been credited with transforming the playing style of the England team into a more attacking and expansive game, enabling them to beat the best teams in world rugby. He has implemented a positive coaching structure for the senior side and has worked closely with the Rugby Football Union, the governing body of the sport in England, to do the same throughout representative rugby.

As a player he won 21 caps for England and was a tourist with the British and Irish Lions in 1980 and 1983. He played for Harlequins and Leicester before moving to Manly in Australia where he gained his first experience as a coach. He returned to England to coach Henley before moving to London Irish and then on to Bath.

Captain

Martin Johnson (Lock, Leicester Tigers)

One of the undisputed "hard men" of international rugby.

It is a style of "in your face" leadership that saw him lead the British and Irish Lions to a rare series victory in South Africa in 1997 and narrowly missing out on repeating the feat in Australia in 2001. In so doing he became the first player in the history of the game to skipper two Lions tours.

In late 1998 Johnson captained England for the first time and took on the Captaincy on a permanent basis after Lawrence Dallaglio was forced to step down. Barring injury or suspension he has captained the team ever since.

Born in Solihull near Birmingham the 2 metre, 119 kilo lock forward is a pillar of strength in the lineouts and the very solid rock around which England have built their increasingly rugged forward play in the last few seasons.

Part of the reason for Johnson's toughness is that he learned his early rugby in New Zealand, choosing to play a few seasons for King Country in his late teens. In fact, if he had chosen, Johnson could have gone on to become an All Black, impressing locals so much that he was selected for the All Black Under 21 tour to Australia in 1990, coming up against the likes of Wallaby legend John Eales.

Making his international debut in 1993 Johnson has enjoyed over a decade of international rugby and captured nearly all of the trophies on offer to him in the game including Lions series victories, Six Nations, English Premiership and European Cup titles.

But there is one trophy that has alluded him during his illustrious career – the William Webb Ellis Cup - and at 33 this will be his last opportunity to grab it. Johnson will give everything he can to win the number one prize in World Rugby before he retires.

The most capped lock in English Test history, Johnson has captained his country 32 times (second only to Will Carling) in his 77 Tests and scored two tries.

Key Players

Richard Hill (Flanker, Saracens)

One of the absolute nice guys of world rugby, -30-year-old Richard Hill is one of the most friendly, polite and gentle souls you will meet off the rugby field.

But on the field he has earned the nickname of the “Silent Assassin” at both club and international level, due to his effective and abrasive style of forward play that has made him legendary in rugby circles. Hill measures in at 1.87 metres and 102 kilos, and he uses every bit of it around the field as his big hits and relentless support play make him a great attacking weapon for England.

One of the stars of the 2001 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, Hill’s absence from the Third and final Test, due to an unlucky “collision” with Wallaby centre Nathan Grey during the second Test, could be pinpointed as a major reason for the Lions’ failure to clinch the series.

Born in Dormansland in Surrey, Hill made his England debut back in February 1997 in a 41-13 triumph over Scotland at Twickenham, and since then injury has been the only reason for England to start an international without him, clocking up 60 Tests including 11 tries.

A thorough professional, Hill's workmanlike attitude combined with a shrewd rugby brain make him a fierce proposition. He has the remarkable achievement of appearing for his country at every level, spanning Schools 16-Group and 18-Groups, Colts, Students Under 21, Under 21, Students, Emerging Players, the A team, Sevens and finally, England.

One Australian Hill will be keen to meet during his Rugby World Cup safari Down under is Steve Irwin - he is a big fan of Irwin’s show “The Crocodile Hunter”.

Jason Robinson (Winger, Sale Sharks)

Born in Leeds and a world-class Rugby League star for Wigan Warriors and Great Britain before his cross-code switch in 2000 to Manchester’s Sale Sharks, Robinson's rise in the Union code has been nothing short of astonishing.

He was called up to the England squad for the first time for the 2001 Six Nations match against Italy, and appeared another three times as a late replacement during the tournament. He made such an impression that he was selected for the 2001 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.

From rank outsider on that tour, he went on to become one of the Lions stars, few ever forgetting his stunning burst down the left touchline in the opening moments of the 1st Test in Brisbane, leaving Wallaby fullback Chris Latham for dead to score the Lions’ first try.

Returning to England he went on to establish himself as the first choice fullback for his country and he continues to impress many observers with his raw pace and mesmerising footwork. He could well hold the key to a successful Rugby World Cup challenge for England in 2003.

During his rugby league career he scored an amazing 184 tries in 302 matches, including tries in six successive Test matches for Great Britain. His ability to find the tryline has definitely come across to rugby with him, with the 1.72 metre, 84 kilo winger already notching up 18 tries in only 21 Tests.

Once renowned as a "bad boy" in sporting circles Robinson, nicknamed 'Billy Whiz' by his teammates, is a committed Christian after being introduced to the faith by former Wigan team-mate and Samoan and New Zealand rugby international, Va'aiga Tuigamala.

This change in his lifestyle has seen him reach new heights of success both on and off the rugby field.

Jonny Wilkinson (Flyhalf, Newcastle Falcons)

At 24, handsome and supremely talented, Jonny Wilkinson MBE is the pin-up boy of English rugby. But unlike former English flyhalves, whose greatest attributes have been their kicking games, Wilkinson is devastating in attack and defence.

Just ask any opposition centre who is on the receiving end of one of his bone-crunching big hits. But this doesn’t mean Wilkinson can’t kick, steering England to some crucial victories over the last few years with his deadly aim. In all he has landed a whopping 679 points from his boot in Test matches.

Born in Frimley he is well known to Australian audiences as one of the stars of the 2001 British and Irish Lions tour, Wilkinson is one of the most exciting players in world rugby and worth the price of admission alone.

After just five years in Test rugby, the 1.77 metre and 89 kilo Wilkinson is already England’s record points scorer (5 tries, 113 conversions, 138 penalties and 7 drop goals) in just 46 Tests at an impressive average of 15.3 per game.

He also holds the record for most points in a Six Nations Championship (89 in 2001) and most points in a Six Nations match (35 against Italy at Twickenham also in 2001). Wilkinson made his Test debut at the tender age of 18 years and 314 days as a replacement against Ireland in 1998, making him the youngest England cap since 1927.

2002 was a golden year for Wilkinson as he was chosen as the International Player's Player of the Year and was awarded an MBE for services to rugby in the Queen's Birthday Honours' list - the youngest rugby player ever to receive such an honour.

The only disappointment that year was losing to France in the Six Nations but the following year he steered his team mates to the long awaited Six Nation's Grand Slam with a resounding 42-6 thumping of Ireland in Dublin.

Wilkinson's career lifted another notch during that same Six Nations championship as he was chosen to Captain the team against Italy in Rome when usual Captain Martin Johnson pulled out due to injury.

Young Guns

Iain Balshaw (Fullback, Bath)

Twenty four-year-old Balshaw was one of the youngest players on the British and Irish Lions 2001 tour of Australia.

Although he had to battle with his English team mates Matt Perry and Jason Robinson for game time on that tour, he came on as a replacement in all three Tests and is seen as one of the most exciting young prospects in English rugby.

After a devastating season for England in 2000, which included putting through the deft grubber kick to set up Dan Luger’s try in the nail-biting victory over the Wallabies at Twickenham, Lancashire born “Balsh” has always been tipped for big things.

Recently injury and a dip in form saw him drop out of England team calculations for awhile, and it looked briefly as if he even may lose his Rugby World Cup spot, but he returned to his best against France at Twickenham in England's final warm up Test and cemented his place in the 30 man squad.

He is still highly regarded as one of English rugby’s most exciting young talents and a potent attacking force for the Rugby World Cup, vividly illustrated when he scored his first international tries in the 2001 Six Nations against Italy and added two during the next match against Scotland.

A buzz of expectation greets every pass he receives and the 75-metre break for his second try against Italy was the most memorable in England’s mammoth victory. It was those performances that won him his place on the Lions tour.

A product of Stonyhurst College, Balshaw joined the Bath Rugby Academy in 1997, and after only a few brief appearances for the second team, then club coach Andy Robinson - later Lions and now England Assistant Coach - saw that Balshaw had what it takes to appear for the first XV.
Balshaw was thrown in to the deep-end for his Bath debut, coming from the bench in the Heineken Cup clash against Brive at "The Rec" - Bath's home ground - a repeat of the 1998 final which saw Bath snatch the trophy in Bordeaux.

Robinson's faith was rewarded as Balshaw soon rose to prominence in the senior game in 1998-99 by scoring 13 tries for Bath in the English Premiership. He has the versatility to appear at fullback or wing and, after winning his first five Test caps as a replacement, has now played in 16 Tests in all, scoring twelve tries.

A talented all round sportsman, the 1.84 metre, 83 kilo Balshaw also played cricket and tennis for his county Lancashire at junior level.


He also played in the England Under 21 side which beat South Africa 32-10 at Twickenham, alongside clubmates Mike Tindall and Steve Borthwick, who also went on to win England colours - Tindall joining Balshaw in the England Rugby World Cup squad.

Ben Kay (Lock, Leicester Tigers)

Coach Clive Woodward’s opinion of Ben Kay is so high that he dropped veteran English lock Danny Grewcock out of the team to make way for the 26-year-old Kay soon as Grewcock returned from playing a leading role on the 2001 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.

Indeed such is the quality of this mobile and highly skilled lock that many see him as an instant selection in the second row alongside his captain Martin Johnson.

His consistency and form during the 2002 season saw him play every game for England in the Six Nations, as well as playing a leading role in the famous victory by a very young England team in Argentina.

His form continued into 2003 and since making his debut against Canada in June 2001 he has missed only a handful of England's Tests racking up an impressive 22 Caps and scoring two tries.

Standing at 1.98 metres and tipping the scales at 112 kilos, a member of the Leicester’ Tiger’s European Cup-winning sides in 2001 and 2002 he led England A to a 23-22 win over France in April 2001 before making his full England debut during the successful tour of North America that summer.

He previously represented England in the 1996 Students World Cup in South Africa, at Under 18, Under 19 and Under 21 level, and made his debut for England A in Blagnac against France A in 2000.

Kay joined the Tigers in 1999 after making 69 appearances for Waterloo. Educated at Merchant Taylors’, Crosby and Loughborough University, he is also well known to followers of Brisbane club rugby having enjoyed a stint for Queensland University.

Results

Current World Ranking: 1

Recent Results 2002

2002 Six Nations
02 Feb 2002 v Scotland Murrayfield, Edinburgh Won 29-3
16 Feb 2002 v Ireland Twickenham, London Won 45-11
02 Mar 2002 v France Stade de Francais, Paris Lost 15-20
23 Mar 2002 v Wales Twickenham, London Won 50-10
07 Apr 2002 v Italy Stadio Flaminio, Rome Won 45-9

Tour Matches
22 Jun 2002 v Argentina Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires Won 26-18

Home Internationals
9 Nov 2002 v New Zealand Twickenham, London Won 31-28
16 Nov 2002 v Australia Twickenham, London Won 32-31
23 Nov 2002 v South Africa Twickenham, London Won 53-3

Overall Record:
Matches
W
D
L
For
Ag
Av Score
9
8
0
1
326
133
36-15

Recent Results 2003

2003 Six Nations
15 Feb 2003 v France Twickenham, London Won 25-17
22 Feb 2003 v Wales Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Won 26-9
09 Mar 2003 v Italy Twickenham, London Won 40-5
22 Mar 2003 v Scotland Twickenham, London Won 40-9
30 Mar 2003 v Ireland Lansdowne Road, Dubin Won 42-6

Tour to Australia and New Zealand
14 Jun 2003
v New Zealand Westpac Trust Stadium, Wellington Won 15-13
21 Jun 2003 v Australia Telstra Dome, Melbourne Won 25-14

RWC Warm Up Tests
23 Aug 2003 v Wales Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Won 43-9
30 Aug 2003 v France Stade Velodrome, Marseilles Lost 16-17
06 Sep 2003 v France Twickenham, London Won 45-14

Overall Record:
Matches
W
D
L
For
Ag
Av Score
10
9
0
1
307
113
30.7-11.3

Rugby World Cup Results

Best Placing: Runners Up 1991

Overall Record:
World Cups
Matches
W
D
L
For
Ag
Av Score
4
21
13
0
8
630
370
30-18

Summary of Results:
1987: Quarter Finalists
1991: Runners Up
1995: Semi Finalists
1999: Quarter Finalists

Results

1987 VENUE: Australia and New Zealand
Round 1
23 May 1987 v Australia Concord Oval, Sydney Lost 6-19
30 May 1987 v Japan Concord Oval, Sydney Won 60-7
3 Jun 1987 V USA Concord Oval, Sydney Won 34-6
Quarter Final
8 Jun 1987 v Wales Ballymore, Brisbane Lost 3-16

1991 VENUE: England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and France
Round 1
3 Oct 1991 v New Zealand Twickenham, London Lost 12-18
8 Oct 1991 v Italy Twickenham, London Won 36-6
11 Oct 1991 v USA Twickenham, London Won 37-9
Quarter Final
19 Oct 1991 v France Parc des Princes, Paris Won 19-10
Semi Final
26 Oct 1991 v Scotland Murrayfield, Edinburgh Won 9-6
Final
2 Nov 1991 V Australia Twickenham, London Lost 6-12

1995 VENUE: South Africa
Round 1
27 May 1995 v Argentina King’s Park, Durban Won 24-18
31 May 1995 v Italy King’s Park, Durban Won 27-20
4 Jun 1995 v Samoa King’s Park, Durban Won 44-22
Quarter Final  
11 June 1995 v Australia Newlands, Cape Town Won 25-22
Semi Final
18 June 1995 v New Zealand Newlands, Cape Town Lost 29-45
Third Place Play Off
22 June 1995 v France Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Lost 9-19

1999 VENUE: Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland and France
Round 1
2 Oct 1999 v Italy Twickenham, London Won 67-7
9 Oct 1999 v New Zealand Twickenham, London Lost 16-30
15 Oct 1999 v Tonga Twickenham, London Won 101-10
Quarter Final Playoff
20 Oct 1999 v Fiji Twickenham, London Won 45-24
Quarter Final
24 Oct 1999 v South Africa Stade de Francais, Paris Lost 21-44

Rugby World Cup 2003

Qualifying

As a Quarter Finalist in the last Rugby World Cup in 1999, England qualified automatically for RWC 2003.

Match Schedule

TEAM: ENGLAND
# OPPONENT CITY/VENUE DAY/DATE
8 Georgia Perth – Subiaco Oval Sunday 12th October
16 South Africa Perth – Subiaco Oval Saturday 18th October
30 Samoa Melbourne – Telstra Dome Sunday 26th October
39 Uruguay Brisbane - Suncorp Stadium Sunday 2nd November

View the complete Rugby World Cup 2003 Match Schedule.

More team guides:

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