20 Questions: Miles Benjamin – Leicester wing
I’m just really thankful to be fit and able to play as a starting point, so to be making the team and getting some good results is great.
Tigers look to be stacking up well?
We’re going in the right direction. We’re not getting carried away but we’re around the top 4 or 5 and if we can push on now we’ll be in with a title shot.
Great to be scoring tries again?
Really good! I managed a few in the LV= Cup but to be back on the scoreboard in the Prem is what you want. Great getting over at Sale.
Been a tough two years injury-wise?
Big time! After missing my first season at Tigers with a neck injury I was thankful just to get back. But last season was particularly frustrating as I was playing good stuff before a knee injury finished my season in January.
Did you ever feel like quitting?
Not really. You have to be realistic but as long as people were saying I could play again, I just had to stay patient and hope my body recovered. It did.
Where did you start in rugby?
Never had a junior club but played at King Edward’s School, Birmingham, from where I joined Worcester‘s academy at 18.
Play any other sports?
Loved athletics and took triple-jump and 100-metres quite seriously, representing the West Midlands. Also played water polo and cricket in which I made Warwickshire U14s as an all-rounder.
Boyhood sporting heroes?
Major one was Michael Johnson, who I looked up to a lot. Others would be the sprinter, Maurice Greene, and Brian Lara, who I followed at cricket.
Any rugby men you admired?
My brother was a big fan of Jeremy Guscott so I followed him as well, but winger-wise I’d have to say Lote Tuqiri, Joe Rokocoko and Jason Robinson.
Follow any other sports now?
I’m into American sports like NBA and NFL. I’m also an Aston Villa fan but we won’t talk about that at the moment! I still follow athletics and enjoy boxing.
How do you like to chill out?
Love my music and I enjoy playing a bit of guitar, piano and trumpet. My dad is a huge jazz fan so it was always going to be the same with me.
How big a jazz fan are you?
I go to gigs with my dad and recently we’ve seen Wynton Marsalis, the trumpeter, and the guitarist George Benson. I enjoy a bit of R&B as well.
Best rugby moments to date?
Winning the Churchill Cup with England Saxons was special, along with being promoted with Worcester and scoring my first two tries for Leicester at Welford Road against Montpellier.
Best places you’ve visited?
I toured Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos a few years ago and it’s a beautiful part of the world. I quite enjoy America … New York was pretty special.
Any good at cooking?
I live on my own and am probably a bit lazy to be honest. There’s a lot of stuff out of jars rather than making my own sauces. I need one of those ‘black cards’ for free Nando’s!
If you could invite three special dinner guests?
Denzel Washington, who’s just brilliant at what he does; Jason Robinson because he’s someone I admired a lot; and Barack Obama to hear of the things he’s done.
Best and worst banter at Tigers?
Worst by a mile is Richard Blaze, our forwards coach. I’ve known him years and he says things he thinks are funny but aren’t. Best are probably Ben Youngs and Seb De Chaves, who are both very quick-witted, funny guys.
Best and worst dressed?
Our young centre Terrence Hepetema is the best, he’s definitely got some style. Worst has to be Tom Croft, who actually wears flares!
If you could be another sportsman?
I’m torn between Floyd Mayweather and Usain Bolt… they’re both the best at what they do.
Ambitions in rugby?
To win something with Tigers and be capped by England. I’ll never give up on the latter and I’ve been close before. I’m only 26 so, hopefully, I’ve still got time.
