Dan Luger - International Career

International Career

Although plagued by injury, his international record is exceptional: 21 tries in 33 matches. Only five players have scored more England tries having started his international career by scoring in both of his first two internationals against the Netherlands and Italy in World Cup qualifiers in 1998.

He made his first appearance for England A against Argentina at Northampton in December 1996 having played earlier that year in the World Students Cup in South Africa and for England U21’s.

Luger made his international début in 1998, showing promise in the autumn 1999 World Cup qualification games, one against the Netherlands. He played in the 1999 Rugby World Cup, scoring a notable try against Fiji.

In November 2000, Luger scored a famous last minute match-winning try in an England versus Australia match. Iain Balshaw kicked ahead and he touched down in the corner, with eight minutes of injury time played.

During the 2001 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, Luger scored a hat-trick of tries in the opening match against Western Australia. However, an injury ended his tour, when he fractured a cheekbone in a training accident.

A try from him topped the 42-6 Grand Slam victory over Ireland at Lansdowne Road back in April 2003 and he was again on the score sheet in August when he touched down in England's 43-9 humbling of Wales at the Millennium Stadium during the World Cup warm-up matches.

He came on as an illegal substitute during the England-Samoa game at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, leading to dispute over whether England should be fined, or perhaps even docked points as a penalty for having sixteen players on the field for a short period of time. He struggled for form during the World Cup in 2003 and has not been selected since for the National side.

Luger was also a notable England Sevens player playing at international level for a number of years to 2006.