Ben Skirving

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Ben Skirving
Birth nameBenjamin David Skirving
Date of birth (1983-10-09) 9 October 1983 (age 40)
Place of birthHarlow, Essex
SchoolThe Bishop's Stortford High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number Eight, Flanker
Youth career
Bishop's Stortford RFC
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1999–2009
2009–2013
2013–2015
Saracens
Bath Rugby
Bristol
129
100
33
(70)
(20)
(10)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2006–2010

2007
England Saxons
England


1


(0)
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2005 England Singapore

Ben Skirving (born 9 October 1983) is an English former

England Saxons and England Sevens
sides.

Early life

Born 9 October 1983 in Harlow, Skirving was educated at The Bishop's Stortford High School and showed early promise as a rugby player, captaining England U16s against Wales in 2000.[1] He played for local side Bishop's Stortford Rugby Club before joining the Saracens academy system in 1999.

Club career

After joining Saracens' academy system in 1999 Skirving worked his way through the club's development sides before making his first team debut against Leeds Tykes in the final fixture of 2002.[2] There were to be a handful of further first team appearances in the 2002–03 season, both in the starting line-up and from the bench.[3] Places in the starting line-up were hard to come by in the succeeding two seasons, with competition from established players such as Taine Randell, however Skirving appeared with increasing regularity from the replacements bench, giving him the opportunity to make his mark as an emerging talent.

Further international recognition came at the end of the 2004–05 season, where his pace brought him a place in the England Sevens squad.[2]

The

England 'A' level in February 2006,[2]
before a shoulder injury cut short his season.

Skirving's comeback in the

2006–07 season
was hampered by a pre-season injury but he was soon a regular fixture in the starting line up, passing the 100 cap mark for the club during the year at the age of just 22.

His displays brought another call-up for the rebranded England 'A' team, now the

Springboks. Skirving was not involved in the first test, but won his first England cap starting the second test on 2 June 2007.[1][2][4]

He was called into the

Ragusa, Sicily on 9 February 2008.[5][6]

Skirving was one of 15 players told in February that they could leave Saracens at the end of the

On 16 April 2009, it was confirmed that Skirving had signed a two-year deal with Bath Rugby.[8]

On 12 March 2013, Skirving left Bath to join Bristol in the RFU Championship for the 2013/14 season.[9]

In September 2015, Skirving became the Head of Rugby at Hymers College, Hull. Then, in 2020, he accepted the position of Head of Rugby at the outstanding Churcher's College Senior School, located in Petersfield.

References

  1. ^ a b "RFU Profile". Rugby Football Union. 2 June 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2007.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b c d "Saracens Profile". Saracens. 5 November 2007. Archived from the original on 24 November 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
  3. ^ "Guinness Premiership Profile". Guinness Premiership. 5 November 2007. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
  4. ^ "Scrum Profile". scrum.com. 5 November 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
  5. ^ "England Saxons training squad for Italy A". Rugby Football Union. 4 February 2008. Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
  6. ^ "Guest, Care and Jarvis join Skinner and Brown in England Saxons squad". Quins. 4 February 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2008.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Saracens plan massive clear-out". BBC. 25 February 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  8. ^ "Bath sign Skirving from Saracens". BBC. 16 April 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  9. ^ "Ben Skirving leaves to join Bristol for the next season". BBC Sport. 12 March 2013.

External links