Born in Coventry, Ben attended Walsgrave Junior School, followed by Woodlands School for Boys. Rugby began, aged 6, at his father’s club, Coventry Saracens.

At 19 Ben took a degree in Sports Coaching and Development at Derby University at the Buxton Campus. After gaining his degree Ben remained living in Buxton and playing rugby for Buxton Rugby Club for 13 years. He enjoyed building up his Sports Coaching business, teaching PE in schools, but sold to a large company in Manchester.

Now married and a parent Ben took a job in Sales with a Scaffold firm for a better income. This led to a job with Digraph selling Truck and Trailer parts and saw the family move to Swadlincote in 2020.

Ben was still playing for Buxton at this point until, having been stalked on Facebook by Matt Derbyshire, he agreed to ply his (Truck and Trailer) trade at Melbourne Rugby Club.

1. First position you played in rugby: Prop
2. Worst injury: Broken Cheekbone

3. Best player you played with at MRFC or elsewhere Outside Melbourne: Greg Mellor, At Melbourne: It will be Joe lucas when he gets older as he has unbelievable potential

4. Best person for post-match drinks, fun and frolics: Loz Betty (During his Midlife crisis)

5. What should your nickname be: After this season: Sicknote

6. What bad habit do you have: All of them

7. Your sporting hero: Jason Leonard

8. Your non-sporting hero: Barry from Eastenders

9. Favourite food/meal: Pizza

10. Favourite TV programme/film: Game of Thrones/Goodfellas although Puss in Boots is a close 2nd.

11. Favourite book: Razzle

12. Who dead or alive would you like to have a conversation with: Ken Roach aka Ken Barlow. I want to know about these 1000 women he claimed to have bedded.

13. You can take either a book, music or a tool to a desert island. Which, and what would it be: Music; Matt Suddaby’s Car Playlist

14. Dream job: Nightclub Owner

15. Tell me something about you that no one knows: My photo was once in the daily mail when they reported on drunken disorderly students abroad.

16. A phrase that reflects your life: Its better to ask for forgiveness than permission

17. What sport do you wish you’d tried: Water Polo. I really enjoyed the session last year at Repton School, organised by Ed Saunders who works there, and Matt.

18. Who would you like to see interviewed for this article: Nat Dryden

19. Your wish for the future of MRFC: Keep going from strength to strength and it is going in the right direction.

20. Your Melbourne Dream Team of players past and present:

As I have only been playing a couple of years, I am going to mix it up and do a melbourne team for the ultimate night out instead:
1. Tony Day
2. Jimmy Burroughs
3. Myself
4. Conor McHale
5. Matt Suddaby (in Ashby)
6. Cal Macken
7. Jack Pearce
8. Tom Warren Capt.
9. Derek Page
10. Euan Holden
11. Danny F. Lawson
12. Sam Smith
13. Loz Betty Vice Capt.
14. Ben Brough (after recent developments)
15. Adam Holland
Coach: Bengo
Social & Media Manager: Jules Raine