Rugby Career
Known for his smooth running style, Guscott was often considered one of the finest ball-players of any rugby age. Former England Coach Clive Woodward called Guscott the "Prince of Centres", and rugby-writer Stephen Jones hails Guscott as part of his 'dream centre combination', along with former New Zealand All Black Frank Bunce. Marking his England debut with a hat-trick of tries in the 58–3 win over Romania in Bucharest in May 1989, Guscott received a call-up for the in progress British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, making a series-winning contribution in the second and third Tests. He travelled to New Zealand in 1993 with the Lions, playing in all three Tests; though in this particular tour the Lions lost 2 matches to 1.
When Will Carling stepped down as England captain in 1996, Phil de Glanville was appointed his successor. As de Glanville was thereby guaranteed a place in the team, Carling was moved from inside centre to outside centre and Guscott was relegated to the bench. Such was Guscott's talent and form at the time that even Carling noted in his autobiography that it was an extraordinary decision for then England Coach, Jack Rowell, to make. In the 1996 Five Nations, Guscott famously came off the bench to play on the wing against each of Ireland and Wales; in each instance sparking the squad's confidence and playing direct roles in their triumphs.
Guscott toured with the 1997 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, where he scored the winning drop goal during the decisive second test, after outstanding penalty kicking by Wales' Neil Jenkins kept the Lions in the game. He started the third and final test in this series but broke his arm and could not finish the game.
His last game in England colours was against Tonga in a 1999 Rugby World Cup pool match at Twickenham Stadium, scoring a length-of-field interception try and receiving a standing ovation upon the game's conclusion. An increasingly debilitating thigh injury forced Guscott to call time on his career and take an early exit from 1999 World Cup competition. England would go on to lose to South Africa, without Guscott, in the Quarter Final. In all, Guscott represented England in three World Cups – 1991, 1995, and 1999 – helping England to a Final appearance in 1991. He missed most of the 1994 International season through injury, and his form wavered for some time after returning, in particular during the 1995 World Cup, where many believed de Glanville meritted a place in the starting line-up over Guscott.
Guscott now works full time for the BBC as a pundit on their Rugby Special, Scrum V and 6 Nations programmes.
Read more about this topic: Jeremy Guscott
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“It is a great many years since at the outset of my career I had to think seriously what life had to offer that was worth having. I came to the conclusion that the chief good for me was freedom to learn, think, and say what I pleased, when I pleased. I have acted on that conviction... and though strongly, and perhaps wisely, warned that I should probably come to grief, I am entirely satisfied with the results of the line of action I have adopted.”
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