Martin Corry (rugby union)

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For other people named Martin Corry, see Martin Corry (disambiguation).

Martin Corry
MBE
Martin Corry.JPG
Birth nameMartin Edward Corry
Date of birth (1973-10-12) 12 October 1973 (age 47)
Place of birthBirmingham, England
Height6 ft 5 in (1.95 m)
Weight17 st 9 lb (112 kg)
SchoolTunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
UniversityNorthumbria University[1]
Occupation(s)Retired Rugby Union player
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number eight, Flanker, Lock
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
–1993 Tunbridge Wells ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1993–95 Newcastle Gosforth ()
1995–1997 Bristol 32 (40)
1997–2009 Leicester Tigers 290 (135)
1998–2009 Barbarians 5 (5)
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1997–2007 England 64 (30)
2001, 2005 British & Irish Lions 7 (0)

Martin Edward Corry MBE (born 12 October 1973) is a retired English rugby union player who represented and captained England and Leicester Tigers in a career spanning 14 seasons. Corry played 64 times for England between 1997 and 2007, played 7 tests for the British & Irish Lions on tours in 2001 & 2005, and played 290 times for Leicester between 1997 and 2009. Earlier in his career he played top division rugby for Newcastle Gosforth and Bristol. A versatile player his principal positions were number eight and blindside flanker, he also played lock more as his career progressed.

Corry started the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final, and was an unused substitute as England won the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final. He was a Premiership Rugby champion six times (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007 & 2009) and European Champion twice in 2001 and 2002.

Club career[]

Born in Birmingham, Corry was educated at Tunbridge Wells Grammar School,[2] and the University of Northumbria, and first played rugby union for Tunbridge Wells minis and the first team before joining Newcastle Gosforth and later Bristol. He broke his contract at Bristol to move to Leicester Tigers in 1997.

Corry made his Leicester debut on 30 August 1997 against Gloucester at Welford Road Stadium,[2] and despite being sent off in a 15 all draw against Northampton Saints played 27 times across number 8, flanker and lock in his first season.[3] The following season saw Corry establish himself as Tigers first choice number 8, starting 29 times in the season; Corry made amends for his red card the previous season as he scored a crucial try in a 1st v 2nd match against Northampton, the 22-15 win effectively sealed the first of Leicester's four successive Premiership Rugby titles.[4][5]

After selection for the 1999 Rugby World Cup, Corry returned to Leicester on 30 October 1999 scoring a try against Bedford Blues in a 61-12 win. Corry was then an ever present as Tigers lost only 1 game in 16 to retain the Premiership Rugby title, he also captained the side for the first time in a European game against Leinster.[6]

2000-01 season saw Corry again be a regular member of Leicester pack, switching between flanker and number 8 with Will Johnson, he played 30 times as Tigers retained the Premiership Rugby title for a third straight year.[7] This season Tigers also progress in Europe, Corry started as Leicester beat Swansea in the quarter finals and Gloucester in semis,[8] Corry started the 2001 Heineken Cup Final at blindside flanker as Leicester beat Stade Français 34-30.[9]

Corry missed much of the first half of the 2001-02 season with injury but returned in December to be an ever present until Leicester secured their fourth straight Premiership Rugby title on 13 April 2002 against Newcastle Falcons at Welford Road.[10] Corry went to start the 2002 Heineken Cup Final as Leicester beat Munster Rugby to be the first side to retain the European trophy.[11]

Leicester reached the semi-finals of the 2004-05 Heineken Cup, but Corry missed the semi final defeat by Toulouse due to suspension following a red card against Saracens.[12] However in May 2005 he was named as both the player of the 2004-05 Premiership Rugby season at the end of year awards,[13] and the players' player of the season.[12] Despite the individual accolades Leicester were to come up short losing the Premiership final to Wasps.

Corry was named as Leicester's new club captain in August 2005, taking over after the retirement of Martin Johnson.[14]

Corry won his fifth Premiership medal in 2007, starting the final and scoring a try as Leicester defeated Gloucester.[15]

Corry announced his retirement in 2009.[16][17]

International rugby[]

During his career he has worked his way up the full representative ladder, representing England at Schools, Students, U21 and A level. He made his England debut against Argentina on the 1997 tour there with the main players playing on the 1997 British Lions tour.

Because of his ability to play either at lock, blindside or number 8, he was often used as an impact substitute.

In 2001 he was called up to the British and Irish Lions side after the tour had started, due to injuries within the squad, and immediately impressed Graham Henry, the Lions coach. He started the first test in the absence of the injured Neil Back, and replaced the injured Richard Hill in the second before starting the third test in the absence of Hill.

His subsequent international form has been varied: after playing in the delayed Six Nations decider in Dublin in October 2001, Corry missed out on the Autumn internationals but was a bench replacement for the 2002 Six Nations.

He confirmed his selection for Clive Woodward's Rugby World Cup squad in a highly competitive back row area with a strong late run in England's warm-up matches: he performed well in the 43–9 defeat of Wales at the Millennium Stadium in late Summer of 2003 and then again in the September defeat of France at Twickenham. He was part of England's 2003 World Cup-winning squad, chosen ahead of teammate Graham Rowntree. During the 2003 Rugby World Cup, Corry flew home from Australia for the birth of his first child, daughter Eve. He rejoined the squad days later, and played in England's victory over Uruguay.

In 2005, he was named as England Captain for the Six Nations match against Italy and Scotland, in the absence of Jason Robinson.

In the summer he was selected for his second Lions tour, this time to New Zealand, and was made vice-captain for the first test. He went on to captain the team from the 2nd minute onwards as Brian O'Driscoll was injured in a notorious spear tackle incident. However, he was dropped for the final two tests in favour of Ryan Jones.

He was again selected as England's captain for the 2005 autumn internationals and 2006 Six Nations tournament. He continued as captain for the Autumn Internationals of 2006, in which England lost to New Zealand, Argentina and South Africa. Following these results, England Head coach Andy Robinson left his post and was replaced by Brian Ashton. In his first squad selection as England coach, Ashton named Corry in the starting line-up for the 2007 Six Nations opener against Scotland, though he was replaced as captain by Phil Vickery. Corry remained in the side as the tournament progressed, but in the final two games of the tournament (against France and Wales) he was moved to lock.

In 2007, Corry formed part of the Ashton's Rugby World Cup squad in which England progressed to the Final in Paris but were ultimately unable to defend their world title, losing to South Africa. The following year, Corry reportedly turned down Ashton's offer of a place in the England's squad for the opening fixture of their 2008 Six Nations campaign, instead announcing his retirement from international rugby at the age of 34. This move was made in order that he could focus on his remaining club career with Leicester tigers.The Times – Brian Ashton pays tribute to Martin Corry</ref>[18]

He captained the Barbarians against England at Twickenham on 30 May 2009, to a 33–26 victory.[19]

Personal life[]

Corry flew back from Australia during the 2003 World Cup for the birth of his first child, a daughter called Eve. He rejoined the squad just a few days later. His son Edward was born soon after the end of the 2006 Six Nations Championship and daughter Tess was born in 2009.

Sources[]

  • Farmer, Stuart; Hands, David (2014). Tigers - Official history of Leicester Football Club. The Rugby Development Foundation. ISBN 978-0-9930213-0-5.

References[]

  1. ^ Cleary, Mick (8 January 2008). "England start life after Martin Corry". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 4 February 2009.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Farmer & Hands 2014, p. 357.
  3. ^ Farmer & Hands 2014, p. 263.
  4. ^ Farmer & Hands 2014, pp. 262–264.
  5. ^ "History". premiershiprugby.com. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  6. ^ Farmer & Hands 2014, p. 271.
  7. ^ Farmer & Hands 2014, p. 272.
  8. ^ "Leicester power into Heineken final". BBC Sport. 21 April 2001. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  9. ^ "European glory seals Leicester treble". BBC. 19 May 2001. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  10. ^ "Leicester crowned champions". BBC. 13 April 2002. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Tigers retain European Cup". BBC. 25 May 2002. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b Paul Kitson (12 May 2005). "Corry celebrates but regrets lost weekend". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  13. ^ Paul Rees (5 May 2005). "Corry named player of the season". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Corry named as Leicester captain". BBC Sport. 5 August 2005. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  15. ^ "Premiership final". BBC. 12 May 2007. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  16. ^ "Leicester Tigers' Martin Corry calls time on playing career". The Telegraph. London. 9 May 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
  17. ^ "Veteran Corry retires from rugby". BBC News. 9 May 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  18. ^ "Corry retires from England duty". BBC Sport. 8 January 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  19. ^ "Corry set to captain Barbarians". BBC Sport. 27 May 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2009.

External links[]

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Jason Robinson
Pat Sanderson
Phil Vickery 		English National Rugby Union Captain
Mar 2005 – Mar 2006
Nov 2006
Sep 2007 		Succeeded by
Pat Sanderson
Phil Vickery
Phil Vickery
Preceded by
Brian O'Driscoll
Tour Captain
O'Driscoll
injured as active captain 		British and Irish Lions Captain
O'Driscoll
Remained Tour Captain
Jun 2005
As Active captain 		Succeeded by
Brian O'Driscoll
Tour Captain
Gareth Thomas
as active captain
Retrieved from ""