Miles Benjamin
{{Short description|English rugby union player}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Miles Benjamin
| image =
| birth_name = Miles Benjamin
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1988|5|11}}
| birth_place = Solihull, West Midlands, England
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}
| weight = {{convert|106|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
| school = King Edward's School, Birmingham
| position = Wing
| ru_currentteam = Leicester Tigers
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Worcester Warriors
| years1 = 2006–2012
| years2 = 2012–2016
| clubs1 = Worcester Warriors
| clubs2 = Leicester Tigers
| apps1 = 124
| apps2 = 29
| points1 = 300
| points2 = 50
| repyears1 = 2008
| repyears2 = 2010–2016
| repteam1 = England U20
| repteam2 = England Saxons
| repcaps1 = 4
| repcaps2 = 4
| reppoints1 = 20
| reppoints2 = 30
| repsevensyears1 =
| repsevenscomp1 =
| ru_clubupdate = 24 April 2012
| ru_ntupdate = 24 April 2012
}}
Miles Benjamin (born 11 May 1988 in Solihull, West Midlands, England) is a retired rugby union player who played at Wing for the Leicester Tigers & the Worcester Warriors in the English Aviva Premiership. He also played several other sports in his youth, representing the West Midlands at athletics and water polo, and Warwickshire at cricket. He received the Bache memorial prize for sportsman of the year from his school, King Edward's School, Birmingham.{{cite news|url=http://www.warriors.co.uk/1755.php|title=Wing sensation Benjamin signs Warriors deal|publisher=Worcester Warriors|date=21 January 2008|accessdate=8 June 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102005329/http://www.warriors.co.uk/1755.php|archivedate=2 January 2011}}
Club career
=Worcester Warriors=
Benjamin was signed by the Worcester Warriors Academy. After suffering a fractured fibula at the Middlesex Sevens in August 2006, Benjamin returned to full fitness with the help of the Worcester Warriors physios after a year out, returning in the 2007 Middlesex Sevens tournament. Cousin, Marissa Dzotsi, who helped him through it all and was by his side and watched him play a great game. Miles plays centre and wing.
His debut first-team start was against London Irish in the EDF Energy Cup, where he scored a try.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7115087.stm|title=London Irish 48–27 Worcester |work=BBC Sport|date=2 December 2007|accessdate=20 October 2010}} His debut Premiership appearance was as a substitute against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road. He scored his first Premiership try against Newcastle Falcons in January 2008.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/7166775.stm|title=Newcastle 15–12 Worcester|work=BBC Sport|date=6 January 2008|accessdate=20 October 2010}} He finished the season as the club's leading try-scorer with 15 and fourth in the Guinness Premiership charts with nine. Benjamin was jointly awarded the Young Player of the Year prize at Worcester's end of 2007–08 season awards. He was on the losing side in the final of the 2007–08 European Challenge Cup.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7408294.stm|title=Bath secure Challenge Cup glory|work=BBC Sport|date=25 May 2008|accessdate=20 October 2010}}
In November 2009, Benjamin agreed a two-year deal which will keep him at Worcester Warriors until 2012.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/worcester/8379275.stm|title=Wing Miles Benjamin signs new Worcester deal|work=BBC Sport|date=25 November 2009|accessdate=20 October 2010}} Despite suffering relegation during the 2009–10 Guinness Premiership, Benjamin stayed with the club.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8959515.stm|title=Miles Benjamin happy to remain at Worcester Warriors|work=BBC Sport|date=1 September 2010|accessdate=20 October 2010}}
=Leicester Tigers=
Benjamin signed a deal with Leicester Tigers for the 2012/2013 season. In his first game for the tigers, in an 'A' League match at Northampton he suffered a serious neck injury which ruled him out for the rest of the 2012/2013 season. He finally made his 1st XV debut in October '13 against Ulster. His first scores for the tigers were in a Heineken Cup match against Montpellier where he scored a brace.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/dec/09/leicester-miles-benjamin-england-hopes|title=Leicester's Miles Benjamin delivers lethal finish to cap long road back|work=The Guardian|date=9 December 2013|accessdate=5 January 2014}} He scored his first Premiership try for Leicester on 5 January in a 27–27 draw against Bath. He announced his retirement on 24 March 2016 due to a longstanding injury.
International career
Benjamin played for the England Under-19 team at the 2007 IRB Under-19 World Championships.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6564461.stm|title=England U19 31–13 Argentina U19|work=BBC Sport|date=17 April 2007|accessdate=20 October 2010}} He also represented the England under-20 team at the 2008 IRB Under-20 World Cup, finishing as runners up.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7467273.stm|title=England U20 3–38 NZ U20|work=BBC Sport|date=22 June 2008|accessdate=20 October 2010}}
He made his debut for the England Saxons against Ireland Wolfhounds in January 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.rfu.com/News/2010/January/News%20Articles/310110_Saxons_v_IrelandA.aspx?a=1&y=2010|title=England Saxons turn the tables on Ireland A|publisher=Rugby Football Union|date=31 January 2010|accessdate=20 October 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928211344/http://www.rfu.com/News/2010/January/News%20Articles/310110_Saxons_v_IrelandA.aspx?a=1&y=2010|archivedate=28 September 2012}} He scored his first try at this level a week later, against Italy A.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8501154.stm|title=England Saxons recover to defeat Italy A in Treviso|work=BBC Sport|date=7 February 2010|accessdate=20 October 2010}}
Post retirement career
In 2019, Benjamin joined the employment team of law firm Lewis Silkin LLP.{{Cite web |title=Lewis Silkin - Error 404 |url=https://www.lewissilkin.com/404?item=%2fpeople%2fmiles-benjamin&user=extranet%5cAnonymous&site=website |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Lewis Silkin |language=EN}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090212160423/http://www.warriors.co.uk/players/warriorsplayers.php?player=33417&includeref=dynamic Worcester profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120821173555/http://www.rfu.com/squadsandplayers/englandsaxons/milesbenjamin England profile]
- [http://www.premiershiprugby.com/squads.php?player=33417&includeref=dynamic Premiership profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benjamin, Miles}}
Category:English rugby union players
Category:Worcester Warriors players
Category:Black British sportsmen
Category:People educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham
Category:Birmingham & Solihull R.F.C. players