Rory Underwood was England's record try scorer for many years, forming a devastating finishing threat on the wing through the 1980s and 1990s.
Rory Underwood MBE was born on 19 June 1963 in Middlesbrough, England, to a Yorkshire engineer father and Chinese-Malaysian mother who met while his father worked in Malaysia. Underwood spent his early childhood in Malaysia before the family returned to England in 1976, and he attended Barnard Castle School alongside future England teammate Rob Andrew. Underwood joined the Royal Air Force in 1983, training as a pilot while simultaneously beginning a 14-year rugby career with Leicester Tigers, flying Tornado jets and later working in flight safety and navigator training across an 18-year military career that ran in parallel with his rugby. He made his England debut in 1984 and went on to become the country's all-time leading try scorer. Underwood retired with a men's England record of 49 tries in 85 caps, a mark that stood for decades, and toured with the British and Irish Lions in both 1989 and 1993. In 1992, he played alongside his younger brother Tony for England, the first pair of brothers to do so for the national side since 1937, and featured in the 1991 World Cup final defeat to Australia. Underwood was awarded the MBE in 1992 for his services to rugby, and after retiring from both the RAF and professional rugby in the late 1990s, built a career as a business consultant and motivational speaker, drawing on the discipline and teamwork demanded by his unique dual career.
England's former all-time leading try scorer
How They Played
Underwood was renowned for his exceptional pace and ability to finish tries from wide positions. His acceleration and footwork made him a constant threat on the wing, capable of beating defenders in tight spaces. He possessed excellent positional sense and was particularly effective at exploiting gaps in opposition defenses.
Lasting Impact
Underwood's try-scoring record for England stood as a benchmark for future generations and helped establish England as a major force in international rugby during the late 1980s and 1990s.
Career Honours
- England Grand Slams 1991, 1992, 1995
| Club | Period | Apps | Tries | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leicester Tigers | 1983–1997 | 236 | 40 | #11 |
 England | — | 85 | 49 | — |