Joe Worsley

Joseph Paul Richard Worsley was born on June 14, 1977, in London, England. He received his education at Hitchin Boys’ School and Brunel University. At the age of 16, Worsley joined London Wasps from Welwyn RFC, marking the beginning of a notable rugby career. He quickly established himself, becoming the youngest player to represent England U21s after being part of the England Schools 18 Group Grand Slam team in the 1994–95 season. Worsley earned a reputation for his defensive capabilities and versatility across the back row positions.

Worsley spent his entire club career with London Wasps from 1993 to 2011. During his tenure, he played 275 games and contributed to numerous victories, including Anglo-Welsh Cup titles in 1999 and 2000. He was instrumental in Wasps’ four Premiership Rugby titles in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2008, scoring a try in the 2003 final. His club achievements also extend to the Heineken Cup, which Wasps won in both 2004 and 2007. Internationally, Worsley represented England 78 times between 1999 and 2011, participating in three Rugby World Cup squads. He was a member of the victorious 2003 Rugby World Cup team and started in the 2007 final.

His international career also included a call-up to the British & Irish Lions squad in 2009, where he played one Test match against the Springboks and five provincial matches. Following his retirement from playing in November 2011 due to a neck injury, Worsley embarked on a coaching career. He has held positions as a defense coach for French Top 14 teams such as Castres Olympique, CA Brive, and Clermont Auvergne, and as an assistant coach for Union Bordeaux Begles. Additionally, Worsley co-founded FR-UK Rugby, a YouTube channel dedicated to promoting French domestic club rugby in the UK and Ireland, which secured broadcast rights for the 2024–25 and 2025-2026 Rugby Pro D2 seasons.