- Steve Borthwick
Infobox Rugby Union biography
playername = Steve Borthwick
fullname = Stephen William Borthwick
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1979|10|12
cityofbirth = Carlisle, Cumbria
countryofbirth =England
height = 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
weight = 17 st 10 lbs (113 Kg)
nickname =
school =Hutton Grammar School
university =University of Bath
relatives =
position = Lock
currentclub = Bath
clubnumber = 5
youthyears =
youthclubs = Preston Grasshoppers
years = 1998 - 2008
clubs = Bath
caps(points) = 150 (20)
repyears = 2000 ‐
repteam = England
repcaps(points) = 39 (10)
pcupdate =
repupdate =Stephen William Borthwick (born
12 October 1979 inCarlisle ) is an Englishrugby union footballer who plays lock forSaracens F.C. and England. Borthwick is captain of the England Rugby Union team's tour of New Zealand in 2008. He has established himself among the bestline-out jumpers inEngland . He is 6'6" and over 17st.Club career
Borthwick was captain of the
Hutton Grammar School rugby team, with whom he went on a tour to Australia.Borthwick joined Bath in 1998 from Preston Grasshoppers, making his debut against Saracens in December 1998. During this time, he was balancing rugby commitments with study, and graduated from the
University of Bath in 2003 with a degree in Economics and Politics.Borthwick had arguably his best season for Bath in 2003/04. A central figure in the absence of many senior players due to the World Cup, he set about making his mark on the Zurich Premiership. He was one of the three nominees for the Zurich Premiership Player of the Year award.
In January 2008, Borthwick announced that he would be leaving Bath at the end of the 2007/8 season for
Saracens F.C. . [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/bath/7191780.stm|title=Borthwick set for Saracens switch|date=16 January,2008|accessdate=2008-01-16]International career
He first emerged during England's tour of South Africa in 2000. Despite his presence in the line-out, he was not considered heavy enough for international rugby, but has since bulked out.
A regular choice as the England A team captain, from his debut against Wales at Wrexham in February 2001, he had already played on the full tour of South Africa the previous summer. Injury prevented him being considered for the next trip the following year to Argentina.
He came on as a blood replacement for
Ben Kay in the 25-14 win over Australia in Melbourne in June 2003, his sixth cap. A member of England’s wider World Cup squad, he narrowly missed selection to the final 30.He regained his place in the England squad after the World Cup and despite England's disappointing results, Borthwick was given credit for his solid play.
Borthwick initially failed to make England's 2005 Autumn test squad, with Gloucester forward Alex Brown seemingly poised for a start instead, but injury ruled Brown out of contention and Borthwick stepped in, playing a significant role against Australia, New Zealand and Samoa.
On Sunday 10th February 2008 Borthwick was named captain for England's Six Nations match against Italy in Rome, and on 13 May 2008 he was chosen to captain the full England squad on their summer tour of New Zealand.
Following his switch to Saracens, Steve has been named co-captian for the 2008/09 season along side
Andy Farrell [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/7396322.stm Borthwick named England captain]
References
External links
* [http://www.bathrugby.com/6380_281.php Bath profile]
* [http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/112_146.php?player=4158&includeref=dynamic Guinness Premiership profile]
* [http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.News_Detail&storyid=7081 England profile]
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=1910 Steve Borthwick photo 1 by sportingheroes. net]
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=2378 Steve Borthwick photo 2 by sportingheroes. net]
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