Dan Luger
Encyclopedia
Daniel Darko Luger MBE
(born 11 January 1975) is a former English rugby union
international who was a member of the squad that won the Webb Ellis Cup
in 2003.
and is the son of a Croatian father (head of Croatia
's rugby federation) and Czech mother. Dan was educated at Latymer Upper School
in Hammersmith
joining local club Richmond
as a junior.
Dan Luger played top flight rugby as a left or right wing for a number of England Premiership clubs from 1994 to 2003. He began as a junior at Richmond graduating to the senior XV before his twentieth birthday. Their professional demise was followed by a season (1995–96) at Orrell
where he was first selected for the national team at U-21 level. His blistering pace could not stop Orrell being relegated that season and he moved onto his first spell at Harlequins where he prospered earning the first of his full caps. Luger suffered a series of injuries and was released by Quins at the conclusion of the 1998-99 season.
He joined London rivals Saracens
for two injury hit seasons before returning to Harlequins
where he became a regular with the national team. In 2003 he began a three season stint with USA Perpignan
in French Catalonia. On leaving Perpignan he played for RC Toulon and Rugby Nice Côte d'Azur
where he combined playing with a coaching role.
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 versus 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.
and Craig MacLean
, and World Championship medal-winning decathlete, Dean Macey, he took part in the British Bobsleigh Championships at Cesana Pariol
in Italy. He was given the position of driver and his brakeman was Craig. However, during their initial run Craig suffered several injuries after a collision on the track, and the duo were forced to withdraw from the competition on advice from medical specialists.
, a Monaco
-based international organization.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 11 January 1975) is a former English rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
international who was a member of the squad that won the Webb Ellis Cup
Webb Ellis Cup
The Webb Ellis Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner of the Rugby World Cup. The Cup is named after William Webb Ellis, who is often credited as the inventor of rugby football. The trophy is silver gilt and has been presented to the winner of the Rugby World Cup since the first competition in 1987...
in 2003.
Club career
Dan Luger was born in ChiswickChiswick
Chiswick is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with...
and is the son of a Croatian father (head of Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
's rugby federation) and Czech mother. Dan was educated at Latymer Upper School
Latymer Upper School
Latymer Upper School, founded by Edward Latymer in 1624, is a selective independent school in Hammersmith, West London, England, lying between King Street and the Thames. It is a day school for 1,130 pupils – boys and girls aged 11–18; there is also the Latymer Preparatory School for boys and girls...
in Hammersmith
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
joining local club Richmond
Richmond F.C.
Richmond Football Club is a rugby union club from Richmond, London. It is a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, and is one of the oldest football clubs...
as a junior.
Dan Luger played top flight rugby as a left or right wing for a number of England Premiership clubs from 1994 to 2003. He began as a junior at Richmond graduating to the senior XV before his twentieth birthday. Their professional demise was followed by a season (1995–96) at Orrell
Orrell R.U.F.C.
Orrell Rugby Union Football Club is a rugby union team from the Orrell area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester.The club were founded in 1927, holding a place in the top-tier of rugby union from 1986 to 1997.-1927–1939:...
where he was first selected for the national team at U-21 level. His blistering pace could not stop Orrell being relegated that season and he moved onto his first spell at Harlequins where he prospered earning the first of his full caps. Luger suffered a series of injuries and was released by Quins at the conclusion of the 1998-99 season.
He joined London rivals Saracens
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
for two injury hit seasons before returning to Harlequins
Harlequin F.C.
The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
where he became a regular with the national team. In 2003 he began a three season stint with USA Perpignan
USA Perpignan
Union Sportive des Arlequins Perpignanais or Unió eSportiva Arlequins de Perpinyà , generally abbreviated as USAP in both languages, is a French rugby union club that plays in the city of Perpignan in Pyrénées-Orientales. The club currently competes in the Top 14, the top level of the French...
in French Catalonia. On leaving Perpignan he played for RC Toulon and Rugby Nice Côte d'Azur
Rugby Nice Côte d'Azur Université-Racing
Rugby Nice Côte d'Azur Université-Racing is a French rugby union club, currently playing in the third highest division of the French league system, in Fédérale 1. Nice was founded in 1912, as Racing Rugby Club de Nice. Nice has in the past been in the top division of French rugby, and was runner-up...
where he combined playing with a coaching role.
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
Fiji national rugby union team
The Fiji national rugby union team is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga. Fiji are ranked sixteenth in the world by the IRB as of 26...
.
In November 2000, Luger scored a famous last minute match-winning try in an versus match. Iain Balshaw
Iain Balshaw
Iain Robert Balshaw, MBE is a rugby footballer who plays on the wing or at full back for Biarritz.-Early life:...
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
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
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
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
at Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts...
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
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
during the World Cup warm-up matches.
He came on as an illegal substitute during the England-Samoa
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
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.
Bobsleigh
In 2009, along with Olympic medalists, Jason GardenerJason Gardener
Jason Carl Gardener is a retired British sprint athlete, and former World Indoor Champion. Gardener was educated at Beechen Cliff School and the City of Bath College, and went on to graduate from Bath Spa University.-Athletics career:Gardener started his career at the World Junior Championships in...
and Craig MacLean
Craig MacLean
Craig MacLean is a Scottish track cyclist who has represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, winning a Silver Medal in the Team Sprint at the 2000 Olympics....
, and World Championship medal-winning decathlete, Dean Macey, he took part in the British Bobsleigh Championships at Cesana Pariol
Cesana Pariol
Cesana Pariol was the venue for bobsled, luge and skeleton during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. The track, built for the games, is located in Cesana...
in Italy. He was given the position of driver and his brakeman was Craig. However, during their initial run Craig suffered several injuries after a collision on the track, and the duo were forced to withdraw from the competition on advice from medical specialists.
Commitment
Dan Luger is today a member of the ‘Champions for Peace’ club, a group of 54 famous elite athletes committed to serving peace in the world through sport, created by Peace and SportPeace and Sport
Peace and Sport, "L’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport” is a neutral and apolitical international initiative based in the Principality of Monaco and placed under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco....
, a Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
-based international organization.