Find out which Rugby Union stars were born each day here at RUCK.
Steve Borthwick
Position: Lock
DOB: 12/10/1979 (Age 36)
Current Club: Japan (forwards coach)
Previous clubs: Preston Grasshoppers, Bath, Saracens
Honours: England
The former England Captain made his international debut against France during the Six Nations in 2001. In total, the lock would go on to win 57 caps for his country, scoring two tries. Borthwick, who played his entire club career split between Bath and Saracens, is now the current forwards coach of the Japanese national team that has competed so well in this year’s ongoing Rugby World Cup.
Gary Botha
Position: Hooker
DOB: 12/10/1981 (Age 34)
Current Club: Bulls (forwards coach)
Previous clubs: Bulls, Sharks, Harlequins, Toulouse
Honours: South Africa
Journeyman hooker Gary Botha enjoyed a professional rugby career that spanned 11 years across three countries. This period included playing for his hometown team the Blues, the Sharks, English side Harlequins and French Top 14 team Toulouse. He also played in 12 Test matches for South Africa from 2005 to 2007.
Martin Corry
Position: Lock/Flanker/Number 8
DOB: 12/10/1973 (Age 42)
Current Club: Retired
Previous clubs: Tunbridge Wells, Newcastle, Bristol, Leicester Tigers
Honours: England, British and Irish Lions, Barbarians
Former England Captain Corry was part of the England squad that won the Rugby World Cup in 2003. Corry, who also represented the Barbarians, won seven Test caps for the British and Irish Lions, touring Australia in 2001 and New Zealand in 2005. Cory also won five Premiership titles, two Heineken Cups and the Anglo-Welsh Cup during a hugely successful club career.
Greig Laidlaw
Position: Scrum-half
DOB: 12/10/1985 (Age 30)
Current Club: Gloucester
Previous clubs: Edinburgh
Honours: Scotland U21, Scotland 7’s, Scotland A, Scotland
The Scotland Captain has been consistently outstanding for the Dark Blues’s during the ongoing Rugby World Cup. The scrum-half made his international bow against the All Blacks at Murrayfield in 2010 and has since gone on to win 45 caps for his country. Laidlaw, who played his club rugby for Edinburgh between 2007 and 2014, now plays in the Premiership for Gloucester.
Conrad Smith
Position: Centre
DOB: 12/10/1981 (Age 34)
Current Club: Pau
Previous clubs: Wellington/Hurricanes
Honours: New Zealand
Winning over 90 caps for the All Blacks since making his debut in 2004 makes the centre the mature head of New Zealand’s midfield options. Smith, who is firm in defence and can run great lines, was part of the All Black side to hoist the Webb Ellis Cup in 2011. Known to teammates as ‘Snake’ for his ability to slide through defences, Smith has continued even in his advancing year’s to be a key cog in the New Zealand team but will be ending his international career at the conclusion of the current Rugby World Cup with a move to French side Pau confirmed.
Sam Whitelock
Position: Hooker
DOB: 12/10/1988 (Age 27)
Current Club: Canterbury/Crusaders
Honours: New Zealand
Since making his All Black debut in 2010, the athletic lock was part of New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup-winning team in 2011 and has so far played a important role in their perfect start to their campaign in 2015. Whitelock, who is extremely mobile and a formidable force with the ball in hand, is now one of the most experienced members of the squad having won 70 caps.