Ben Kay
Birth name | Benedict James Kay | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 14 December 1975 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Liverpool, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 120 kg (265 lb; 18 st 13 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Merchant Taylors' Boys' School, Crosby | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | Loughborough University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable relative(s) | Sir John Kay (father) Dame Amanda Yip (sister) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spouse | Virginia Kay | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children | 4 (Jemima, Walter, Digby, Pippa) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Benedict James Kay
.Background
Kay was born in
Kay played for his school (
Career
Kay joined
Having made his
After another outstanding season he was named as the Tigers Members' Player of the Year 2001/2, and was a nominee for the
Kay confirmed his status as a core part of the England squad in the World Cup when he played every minute of every England game except the game against Uruguay. His line-out skills came to the fore here, particularly during the games against South Africa, when Kay learned to count in Afrikaans to crack the Springboks' line-out codes.[9] During the final against Australia, Kay famously knocked-on (dropped the ball forwards) in a try-scoring position when a try would have almost certainly meant an England win. England won regardless, partly as a result of Tigers' teammate Lewis Moody winning a line-out Kay himself had called.[citation needed]
He was the only player to play every minute of England's 2007 Rugby World Cup campaign culminating in their narrow loss in the Final..
Kay helped Leicester win the Premiership in 2007, starting the final as they defeated
Kay started both the
He has since worked as a commentator for ESPN and BT Sport.He also served as non-executive director on Leicester Tigers' board of directors between 2014 and 2021.[20]
Personal life
Kay is a supporter of Liverpool FC.[21][22]
In 2002, Kay married long-time girlfriend Virginia, a physiotherapist,[23] and they have two children.[24] His long time Leicester Tigers and England teammate Martin Johnson was an usher at his wedding.
Kay paid his respects to his former sports teacher at Merchant Taylors, Ian 'Robbo' Robinson, who died in a white water rafting incident whilst on a rugby tour with the school.[25]
References
- ^ "Sir John Kay obituary". London: The Telegraph. 6 July 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2009.
- London Evening Standard.
- ^ "All you need to know about tonight's teams". The Guardian. 13 October 2007.
- ^ "European glory seals Leicester treble". BBC. 19 May 2001. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
- ^ Moore, Jonathon (25 May 2002). "Tigers retain European Cup". BBC. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
- ^ Lyon, Sam (2 June 2001). "Lewsey shines as England pack punch". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
- ^ "Awesome England brush Ireland aside". BBC. 16 February 2002. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
- ^ "Argentina beaten by England youngsters". BBC. 22 June 2002. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
- ^ "England crack lock combination". The Daily Telegraph. 17 October 2007. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020.
- ^ "Wilkinson left out of Lions squad". BBC. 11 April 2005. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
- ^ "Lions 25–25 Argentina". BBC. 23 May 2005. Archived from the original on 23 May 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
- ^ "New Zealand 21–3 Lions". BBC. 25 June 2005. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
- ^ Standley, James (20 October 2007). "World Cup final 2007". BBC. Archived from the original on 21 February 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
- ^ "Premiership final". BBC. 12 May 2007. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ Gordos, Phil (15 March 2008). "Six Nations 2008". BBC. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
- ^ "Leicester 10-9 London Irish". BBC. 16 May 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ "Leicester 33-27 Saracens". 29 May 2010.
- ^ "Kay announces retirement". Leicester Mercury. 9 June 2010. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
- ^ "Former Leicester Tigers lock Ben Kay announces retirement". The Daily Telegraph. 9 June 2010.
- ^ "Club statement: Leicester Tigers Board of Directors". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Leicester Tigers star Ben Kay delighted to be back in England set-up". Leicester Mercury. 5 June 2009. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
- ^ "Small Talk: Ben Kay". The Guardian. 13 February 2004.
- ^ "Ben's home for catch of the day". Liverpool Echo. 25 July 2002.
- ^ "Rugby World Cup: Where are the Scrummies?". The Daily Telegraph. 9 October 2007.
- ^ Barrett, Tony (18 October 2007). "England hero Ben Kay's debt to Mr Robinson". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 16 March 2009.