Name Martin Corry Role Rugby player | Education Northumbria University Positions Flanker | |
 | ||
Martin Edward Corry MBE (born 12 October 1973) is a retired English rugby union footballer who played at number eight, blindside flanker or lock for Bristol Rugby and Leicester Tigers and represented England and the British and Irish Lions.
Contents
Career
Born in Birmingham, Corry was educated at Tunbridge Wells Grammar School 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 was one of Leicester’s core forwards for several seasons, an integral part of Leicester Tigers' success over this period, and was the club's captain during his tenure there. Corry started both the 2001 and 2002 Heineken Cup finals.
Corry captained Leicester from the retirement of Johnson and Back in 2005 until his eventual retirement in 2009. During this time Leicester won the Premiership 3 times and appeared in every final. They also reached the Heineken Cup Final in 2006.
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.
In May 2009, Corry announced that he was retiring at the end of the 2008/09 season. He captained the Barbarians against England at Twickenham on the 30 May 2009, to a 33–26 victory.
In November 2009 Corry announced his involvement in RuckingBall.com, an online community for the development of school-boy rugby, coaches and parents.
Personal life
Corry is a keen supporter of Scarborough FC, having first been taken to watch the club as a child, when his grandfather had a house in the town.
Corry jetted back from Australia during the 2003 RWC for the birth of his first child, a daughter called Eve. It was literally a flying visit, as he rejoined the squad just a few days later. His son Edward was born soon after the end of the 2006 RBS 6 Nations Championship and daughter Tess was born in 2009.