Joe Worsley is rightfully rated as the best utility back row forward in the country, equally at home in any of the three positions. His long stride makes him deceptively swift and many an opposing back has shown their surprise as Joe has overhauled them.
He joined Wasps at 16, and set the club record as the youngest player to make a 1XV appearance two years later set before doing the same with the England U21 team that same season.
This ability forced him into the England World Cup Squad in 1999, an ideal bench replacement, following an impressive season with the club.
His 2002/03 season started in spectacular form, but a hamstring injury forced him out of the England Autumn Internationals and six weeks of the Premiership.
He bounced back to help Wasps win the Zurich Premiership in 2002/03 and 2003/04 as well as the Heineken Cup and a World Cup winners medal with the 2003 England team, though to the dismay of many was overlooked for the Lions squad to tour New Zealand in the summer of 2005.
Joe also missed the 2005 Autumn international series due to a knee injury, but was back at his best for Wasps and England by Christmas.
After turning in some good performances for the club in the 2006/7 season, including two Man of the Match performances against Gloucester and Perpignan, Joe was been selected for England's 2007 Six Nation's squad and was then called up to the 2007 Rugby World Cup where he played an integral role in the side who went all the way to the final. It was in this match of all matches that Worsley picked up a hamstring injury which forced him to leave the field and kept him sidelined for the next few months for Wasps. Clearly Worsley's ability did not suffer however making his comeback against Leeds at Adams Park he made his point scoring a try and putting out a great display. Further injury niggles have restricted his appearances following this game but he has still received a further call up to England for this years Six Nations competition.
When Joe isn't playing rugby he enjoys reading, playing the piano ' a hobbie which he is able to further at home as he owns his own piano. As well as the piano Joe is a keen music fan and enjoys live gigs, Richard Ashcroft a particular favourite.
JOE WORSLEY MBE
Club: London Wasps
Position: Flanker
Born: 14.06.77 | London
Height: 1.95m (6’5”)
Weight: 109kg (17st 3lb)
Representative Honours: England U16 Group, U18 Group, U21s, Sevens, A
Caps: 67
Points: 45 – 9T
International Record: 1999 World Cup – Tg, Fj, 2000 It(R), S(R), SA(1R,2R) 2001 It(R), S(R), F(R), C(1,2), USA, A, R, SA 2002 S, I, F, W(R), Arg 2003 W(R), It, S(R), I(R), NZ(R), A(R), W, World Cup – SA(R), Sam, U 2004 It, I, W(R), F, NZ(1R,2), A, SA, A 2005 W, F, I, It, S 2006 W, It, S, F, A(1R,2), SA(1,2) 2007 S, I, F, W(1,2), F(1,2R), World Cup – USA, Sam, A(R), F(R), SA(R)
Joe Worsley MBE was prevented from adding to his 65 caps during the 2008 RBS 6 Nations due to injury. Although he recovered in time to join the training squad ahead of the third match against France, a lack of match fitness prompted Head Coach Brian Ashton to opt for Tom Croft to fill the blind-side position vacated by an injury to his Wasps' team mate James Haskell.
A utility back row able to play in all three positions, Worsley has played in three Rugby World Cups, having made his test debut in the 1999 pool match against Tonga at Twickenham.
A member of the 2003 RWC winning squad, he started the 2007 pool games against USA and Samoa and came on against Australia, France and in the final with South Africa.
Educated at Hitchin Boys High School, and later at Brunel University, he was part of the England Schools team that won the Grand Slam in 1994-5 and joined London Wasps from Welwyn Garden City RFC at 16.
He has made more than 240 first team appearances and is a triple winner of the Premiership, a double winner of the Heineken Cup, most notably in last May’s final against Leicester Tigers, and he also has a 2006 Powergen Cup winner’s medal.
Did you know?
Joe is an accomplished piano player, but hates rugby songs, and his favourite travel destination is Italy.
An Arsenal fan, he admires sprinting legend Michael Johnson while his non-sporting inspiration is jazz pianist Oscar Peterson.
He would choose to have psychological illusionist Derren Brown as a dinner part guest.
