Ben Gerry

Profile

Current employment  

Surveyor of renewable energy.

Why did you join Stourbridge

Club facilities + atmosphere + friends.

Toughest opponent and why

Josh Kronfeild - very fit and technically excellent.

Best sporting achievement

Tigers 1st XV

Favourite sport, apart from rugby

Motor sport and tennis.

Favourite food

Steak.

What’s on your i-pod?

Fleetwood Mac/2-Pac.

Favourite film

Top gun

Favourite TV programme

Heroes/Lost.

Most embarrassing moment

Running the wrong way on a pitch in mini rugby.

Ambitions

Be happy and make others happy.

Sponsor: Automail Envelopes

Ben's interview with Scribbler in April 2007

Occupation: Manager, Plastics recycling

Educated: Solihull, Bromsgrove, Loughborough University

There's a fair tradition of rugby in Ben's family, with elder brother
Anthony playing back row forward for Moseley a decade ago. "Dad John
also played on the wing for Wasps and Rugby Lions, and my godfather is
ex Lions winger Eddie Saunders who took Dad's try scoring record. Mind
you, when Dad started playing the wingers still threw the ball in.."
These days it's 1st XV hooker Ben who carries out that same duty. "Not
bowling over-arm though!" Both father and son have also been athletes
in their time. "I was a shot putter and discuss thrower, Dad ran at a
good level, at the same time as Ann Packer."

As a schoolboy, Ben captained the England 16 Group in the Six Nations,
including playing against Italy in Milan. "We lost 13-12 to Wales at
Twickenham" was the low point of his leadership. But captaincy of the
national team had lead to interest from Bath who offered an Academy
contract. "I captained them in the Under 19s final when we beat
Leicester at Northampton" Next thing Ben knew, he was playing for
Leicester as he started his varsity career on Leicester's doorstep at
Loughborough University studying Sport & Exercise Science. "There were
a few of us on both Leicester 1st XV contracts and Loughborough's
books. I roomed with Sam Vesty, and Ollie Smith was in both teams as well."

Life at Leicester as a back row forward was never going to be easy. "I
felt I learnt a lot, in the shadow of Lewis Moody, Neil Back and Josh
Kronfeld, but 1st XV starts were going to be few and far between.
Eventually (coach) Dean Richards suggested a move to hooker. I really
didn't fancy it. However, it's not the culture shock that moving to
prop might be and I had good support on either side." Ben recalled.
Plus his Dad could show him how to throw the ball in.

At student level Ben captained England again - back to flanker - and
team coach ex-England scrum half Richard Hill was just starting to
build the success that has become Bristol RFC. He invited Ben the
opportunity to join Bristol on a 1st XV contract. "It didn't quite
work out, and of course if you aren't in the team it's difficult to get back in these days

I thought the chance to return to the Midlands with Pertemps Bees
would enable me to develop a career alongside my rugby." He was
rejoining the club he'd first joined as an eight year old. Then Stour. How come?

"I'd played a lot of rugby with Jim Jenner and Nick Baxter, and had
met Mitch on a few occasions. An injury delayed my arrival but that's
all history." Ben had first met Neil when playing for Major Stanley's
XV v Oxford University prior to the Varsity Match. A fortnight ago,
Ben was captaining the "Irish Vikings" in the Honk Kong Sevens,
dragging along Jim Jenner in the process. It appears that the main
qualification for the team is #1 you don't need to be Irish #2 . err
or a Viking either. Still they won the plate, and if you don't believe me check out hongkongtens.com.

Whilst there, Ben didn't just restrict himself to rugby matters.
Girlfriend Gayle - whom he had first met in Singapore in 2005 - came
along on the tour and Ben proposed to her this time round. And I
thought it was just centres who were soft.

Still it made a better story than last Saturday at Henley for Ben.
Yellow carded, four stitches, and the game held up for ten minutes
whilst the ref has dog muck removed from his shirt. Last PP of the
season, ladies and gentlemen I give you Ben Gerry..I always liked his ice cream anyway.

Further information