Lions 2005: Where are they now? Part 4
We take a look back at the last time the men in red ventured to the home of the All Blacks and ask – what happened to them? Let’s take a look at the men who started the first test in Christchurch, concluding with the rest of the forwards:
5: Ben Kay
Lineouts weren’t a particular highlight for the Lions on their 2005 series, so it’s perhaps unsurprising that Ben Kay didn’t come out covered in glory. However, by the time of the 2007 World Cup, Kay’s name was so immovable from the England teamsheet that even the Daily Mail probably reported it accurately. He played in every minute of that tournament, though come 2008 he’d move into the role of the impact sub for England. At a club level, Kay kept Leicestershire trophy polishers in business, picking up two Heineken Cups and six Premiership titles (though did not feature at Twickenham in the final one). By 2010, Kay’s contract was coming to an end and with several new second rows coming through, Tigers declined to offer him a new one. Rather than pursue other playing offers, Kay joined the newly formed ESPN rugby commentary team before the transition to BT Sport. He’s since proven to be a more than capable analyst and presenter, and one of the few people who actually gets to tell Austin Healey to shut up.
6: Richard Hill
Something of an elder statesman of the squad, 2005 was Hill’s third tour with the Lions. He started the first test, but a knee injury in the first half put an end to the series for him, and in truth he never really shook the problem off. Hill switched back and forth between openside and blindside flanker with ease and was an ever-present under Clive Woodward for England, though by the time 2007 came around he had been relegated to the Saxons squad to add some experience to the developmental group. A stalwart for Saracens, “The Silent Assassin” was a key member of the side that laid the groundwork for the club’s current success, even if he never got to experience their glory years directly. Retiring in 2008, Hill is often spoken of as one of the greatest flankers of all time, though usually by contrary rugby connoisseurs wanting to prove they know more about the sport than you, like those who claim The Rolling Stones are better than The Beatles. After retiring, Hill remained with Saracens as an academy coach and worked in business development and community outreach for the club – though if that means he’s responsible for the hideous “Stand up for the Saracens” song I take back everything nice I said about him. He now works as England team manager.
7: Neil Back
Another of the old guard on the 2005 tour, Back was near enough ready to hang up his boots the second the plane touched down in Blighty. Synonymous with cliché talk of the “dark arts” of the back row, Back was probably one of the last players able to build a career on the back of brazen cheating before blanket TV coverage made such acts almost impossible to get away with. That’s not to suggest a lack of talent of course. Back’s fitness was legendary (though reports he “completed” the notorious beep test are unconfirmed) and he retired as one of the most decorated and respected players in history He remains Leicester Tigers’ all-time top try scorer. By the time he retired from playing in 2005, Back had already spent two years coaching with the Tigers, and transitioned into the role full time. He then became head coach of Leeds/Yorkshire Carnegie in 2008, though resigned after the club’s relegation in 2011. In the same year, he eschewed an offer from an unnamed Premiership club to take on the Director of Rugby position at “The Rugby Football Club Ltd” in National League 3 Midlands. Despite remaining unbeaten for the season, all was not well behind the scenes as the promised investment that had attracted the likes of Back to the unknown club never materialised. Back published his second autobiography “The Death of Rugby” as something of a tell-all about the scandal surrounding the club. He joined the Edinburgh coaching team in 2012 though left the following year after a disappointing run of form. He’s now an ambassador for several charities, works for a visual communications business and insurance broker, and spends his spare time winding up James Haskell on Twitter.
8: Martin Corry
Heavy of brow and dark of eye, Martin Corry always gave the vague impression he was playing rugby wearing more eyeliner than American Idiot era Green Day. Corry was promoted from vice-captain to full skipper after Brian O’Driscoll’s 2nd minute injury in the first test, though was demoted to the midweek team for the next match. Corry captained England under Andy Robinson, though with the arrival of Brian Ashton the armband was shifted to Phil Vickery. Corry retained his presence in the side until 2008, when he reportedly turned down a call-up to the Six Nations squad and retired from international rugby. An ever-present at Leicester Tigers during their all-conquering era, Corry retired in 2009 having won two Heineken Cups and five Premiership titles with the side. He had one last hurrah at Twickenham, skippering the Barbarians to victory over England before turning his hand to community work, after-dinner speaking and youth coaching in Leicestershire. In 2016 he was elected to the RFU council, replacing Richard Hill after the latter’s departure
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Comments on RugbyPass
I bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments