Rugby twin brothers Tom and Ben Curry are gearing up to make history this weekend by becoming the first set of twins to play for England’s men’s rugby team during the Six Nations match against Ireland in Dublin. Both 26 years old, the Curry siblings share not only physical similarities but also a life journey filled with shared experiences, from attending the same schools to playing the same sport in identical positions. Their look is complemented by matching short haircuts, and their close bond has been evident throughout their rugby careers.
The twins’ sporting lineage is rich, as their father, David, played for England’s youth teams and was part of Rosslyn Park, a team in England’s top division during the amateur era. Their mother is a physical education teacher, and they have an uncle who represented England in rugby, along with cousins who play professional soccer and rugby. David also took on the role of headmaster while coaching Tom and Ben at a youth rugby club from a young age. Additionally, the brothers were part of the Manchester City academy, where they played soccer as a formidable center-back duo, and they even showcased their talents in cricket at a county level. Tom has amusingly noted that he outperformed Ben in indoor bowls, illustrating their competitive nature, which often led to emotional moments, even in their backyard cricket games.
They began their rugby journey with sevens rugby as children—a format where Ben played flyhalf and Tom filled the center role. Everything changed when they turned 11; the game transitioned to full-contact rugby with a 15-player format. Tom switched to the No. 8 position, followed a couple of years later by Ben’s move to the back row. Their professional journey continued at Sale, a premier rugby team near Manchester, where they started playing at the age of 14. By 16, they were at the same boarding school, and by the time they were 18, they decided to forgo university to join Sale’s first team. Remarkably, they debuted together in the same match during the 2016-17 season.
Their rise to prominence saw them receive their first call-up to the England senior team for the summer tour of Argentina in 2017. Tom made an impactful entry into the team as he became, at age 19, the youngest forward to represent England. Regrettably, an injury prevented Ben from participating. Four years passed before Ben made his debut against the United States in June 2021, while Tom was in South Africa with the British and Irish Lions, having started all three tests against the Springboks. By then, Tom was already a consistent member of the England squad, having played in the 2019 World Cup final alongside Ben, who was in the same Sale team, each playing as flankers.
Finally, their opportunity to play alongside one another for England has arrived. During their appearance against New Zealand in November, Tom started while Ben was a substitute, leading to a rare occasion where they couldn’t share the field at the same time. However, on Saturday, they are set to play together against Ireland, the reigning Six Nations champions, at Lansdowne Road. Standing shoulder to shoulder at 1.85 meters tall, Tom will play as blindside flanker and Ben as openside, making it difficult for spectators to tell them apart aside from their jersey numbers. Both possess similar skill sets, functioning as diligent scavengers at the breakdown, and are renowned for their relentless work ethic.
Throughout various sports, sibling partnerships have made their mark. The Bryan brothers from California have made a significant impact in tennis, securing 16 Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal while celebrating victories with signature chest bumps. In soccer, the De Boer brothers from the Netherlands enjoyed illustrious careers together at clubs like Ajax and Barcelona. Ice hockey also saw the rise of the Sedin twins, who played together for 18 seasons with Vancouver Canucks and had their jerseys retired after a remarkable career. In rugby, past notable twins include Alan and Gary Whetton, who clinched the Rugby World Cup with New Zealand in 1987, and the Contepomi twins, Manuel and Felipe, who complemented each other as center partners for Argentina. The Curry brothers are now poised to add their names to this illustrious roster of twin athletes.
