Sturnham Ben

Ben Sturnham

Position: Flanker; Number 8;  Lock

Born: 6th March 1974 in St. Albans

Height: 6′ 5″

Weight: 18st 5lb

Education: Verulam School, St Albans.

Achievements:

Honours: England (3 caps) on the Tour of Hell (1998 to SA and Australia).

Debut game: 5th September 1998 v London Wasps

Final game: 29th April 2000 v Harlequins

Number of Appearances: 49

Career details:

Ben Sturnham, who began his rugby career with local side St. Albans, played two seasons at Bath from 1998-2000 after signing from Saracens, before moving to the Bristol Shoguns. A fiery Number 8 Sturnham was selected for Bath Rugby for the first time in the Allied Dunbar Premiership match at the Recreation Ground on the 5^th September 1998 in a 36-27 win over London Wasps. Used primarily as a second rower, he crossed for his first Bath tries in October as he crashed over for a brace in a 23-20 home win over London Irish. Ben went on to make 39 appearances over a two year spell with the club crossing for six tries in total, before a lack of first team opportunities saw him take his considerable talent ‘up the road’ to the Bristol Shoguns. There he continued to display his awesome charges from the base of the scrum to good effect. Ben also represented England on three occasions prior to joining Bath Rugby, lining up on the infamous ‘tour from hell’ against Australia and the fearsome New Zealand All Blacks (twice). Unfortunately in 2004 a knee injury forced Ben to curtail his playing days and he duly retired from the playing side of the sport, accepting a coaching role with the Shoguns.

Bath Rugby Appearances: 1998/1999 – 1999/2000: 31(8)

Bath Rugby Points: 30 – 6t

England Record: 3 caps: 1998 – Aus (1), NZ (1 – rep), NZ (2 – rep)

Signed From: Saracens

Transferred To: Bristol Shoguns and subsequently Newbury RFC where (his playing career finishing due to injury) he became the Director of Rugby.

Also Played For: St. Albans RFC