Steve Borthwick
2021556
222840122
2008-07-01T11:02:36Z
194.72.129.29
{{Infobox Rugby Union biography
| playername = Steve Borthwick
| image =
| fullname = Stephen William Borthwick
| dateofbirth = {{birth date and age|1979|10|12}}
| cityofbirth = [[Carlisle|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 = [[Rugby union positions#4. & 5. Lock|Lock]]
| currentclub = [[Bath Rugby|Bath]]
| clubnumber = 5
| youthyears =
| youthclubs = [[Preston Grasshoppers R.F.C.|Preston Grasshoppers]]
| years = 1998 - 2008
| clubs = [[Bath Rugby|Bath]]
| caps(points) = 150 (20)
| repyears = 2000 ‐
| repteam = [[England national rugby union team|England]]
| repcaps(points) = 39 (10)
| pcupdate =
| repupdate =
}}
'''Stephen William Borthwick''' (born [[12 October]] [[1979]] in [[Carlisle]]) is an [[England|English]] [[rugby union]] footballer who plays [[Rugby union positions#4. & 5. Lock|lock]] for [[Saracens F.C.]] and [[England national rugby union team|England]]. Borthwick is captain of the England Rugby Union team's tour of New Zealand in 2008. He has established himself among the best [[line-out]] jumpers in [[England]]. 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 Rugby|Bath]] in [[1998]] from [[Preston Grasshoppers R.F.C.|Preston Grasshoppers]], making his debut against [[Saracens (rugby club)|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 Rugby|Bath]] in [[2003]]/[[2004|04]]. A central figure in the absence of many senior players due to the [[2003 Rugby Union World Cup|World Cup]], he set about making his mark on the [[Guinness Premiership|Zurich Premiership]]. He was one of the three nominees for the [[Guinness Premiership|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.]].<ref>{{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}}</ref><br />
==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 national rugby union team|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 national rugby union team|England’s]] wider [[2003 Rugby Union World Cup|World Cup]] squad, he narrowly missed selection to the final 30.
He regained his place in the [[England national rugby union team|England]] squad after the World Cup and despite [[England national rugby union team|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 (rugby player)|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.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/7396322.stm Borthwick named England captain</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==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]
{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Phil Vickery (rugby player)|Phil Vickery]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=English National Rugby Union Captain|years=2008}}
{{s-aft|after=incumbent}}
{{end}}
{{England Squad 2007 World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Borthwick, Steve}}
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Carlisle]]
[[Category:Academics of the University of Bath]]
[[Category:English rugby union footballers]]
[[Category:Rugby union locks]]
[[Category:Bath Rugby players]]
[[fr:Steve Borthwick]]
[[it:Steve Borthwick]]
{{Bath current}}