Tony Underwood

Rugger
name = Tony Underwood


caption =
birthname = Tony Underwood
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1969|2|17|df=yes
placeofbirth = Ipoh, Malaysia
dateofdeath =
placeofdeath =
height =
weight =
ru_position = Wing
ru_amateuryears =
ru_amateurclubs =
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalteam = England
ru_nationalyears = 1992-1998
ru_nationalcaps = 27
ru_nationalpoints = (65)
ru_ntupdate = 05 Mar 2007
ru_clubyears = 19??-1995 1995-1999
ru_proclubs = Leicester Tigers
Newcastle Falcons
ru_clubcaps =
ru_clubpoints =
ru_currentposition = Retired
ru_currentteam =
ru_sevensnationalyears =
ru_sevensnationalteam =
ru_sevensnationalcaps =
ru_sevensnationalpoints =
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ru_coachclubs =
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other = yes
occupation = Airline pilot for Virgin Atlantic
family = married with two daughters
spouse =
children =
relatives = Rory Underwood
school = Barnard Castle School
university = Cambridge University

Tony Underwood (born 17 February 1969 in Ipoh, Malaysia) is a former English rugby union footballer who played as a wing three-quarter back. He is of Chinese-English parentage.

His rugby talent was first nurtured at Barnard Castle School. Following his elder brother Rory, he played for Leicester Tigers and England. He made his England debut in October 1992 against Canada, and went on to win a total of 27 English caps. Tony and Rory were the first brothers to play for England together since Harold and Arthur Wheatley in England's 1937 6-3 win over Scotland, and partnered in the 1995 Five Nations Grand Slam win.

He played in the Rugby World Cup in 1995, although arguably his most memorable moment in that tournament was when his opposite number, Jonah Lomu, literally ran over the top of him for one of Lomu's four tries on the day. In 1995, he left Leicester for Newcastle Falcons. His last cap for England came in December 1998 against South Africa where he was replaced early; England went on to win. He would later star in a famous Pizza Hut advert alongside Lomu.

He is now retired from international rugby, and has become a long-haul pilot for Virgin Atlantic. He was seen on ITV's "Airline" training to be a pilot, finally graduating as a pilot, and completing his first flight with EasyJet from London Luton Airport to Geneva. He lives in Evian-les-Bains in France, close to the Swiss border and within easy access to the airport of Geneva. He is married, with two daughters.

References

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6408143.stm BBC Sport: England flyer] - site visited 20070305

External links

* [http://www.sfxsports.co.uk/biogs_rugby.asp?BiogID=638 Tony Underwood's profile at SFX Sports Group]
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=1245 Sporting heroes]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/superstars/profiles/3083938.stm BBC Superstars]