Ben Lucas
Scrumhalf
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Profile
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Height:
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178cm
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Weight:
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84kg
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Date Of Birth:
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30/12/1987
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Place of Birth:
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Ipswich
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Rugby Career
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Senior Club:
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Sunnybank
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Stats
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Provincial Rugby Caps:
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58
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Provincial Rugby Points:
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46 (3t, 5c, 7p)
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Provincial Rugby Debut:
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2008 v Brumbies
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Super Rugby Caps:
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58
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Super Rugby Points:
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46 (3t, 5c, 7p)
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Super Rugby Debut:
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2008 v Brumbies
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St.George Queensland Reds dynamo Ben Lucas excelled as the team’s chief playmaker for large portions of the Reds’ 2012 Australian Conference winning campaign and finished the year having earned his milestone 50th game for Queensland, coming against the Highlanders in round 17.
Ben has the ability to shine at scrumhalf, flyhalf or fullback although it was in the No.10 jersey where he enjoyed the majority of his success in 2012. His first starting opportunity came against the Sharks in Durban in round four, and after guiding the Reds to an early 17-3 lead, was cruelly struck down with a month-long hamstring injury.
Upon his return he was quickly reinstated at flyhalf for a string of three games which saw the Reds record their first ever victory at Eden Park, a narrow loss to the Crusaders in an emotional grand final replay in Christchurch, and arguably their most impressive win of the season against the eventual champions, the Chiefs. In that match, Ben ignited a huge 42-27 come-from-behind victory, scoring a brilliant individual try on the stroke of halftime after earlier trailing 22-8.
Ben’s versatility saw the gifted goal kicker feature heavily at fullback during their 2011 Super Rugby title success before a knee injury forced a premature end to his 2011 season.
His defence was pivotal to the Reds success and structure and, although he played most of his Rugby wearing the No.15 jersey, was asked by coach Ewen McKenzie to defend in the frontline. So impressive were his performances in the Reds’ premiership season, Ben earned his maiden selection in coach Robbie Deans Wallabies squad for the end-of-year Tour to the UK and Wales.
Ben made huge steps forward in 2010 and consistently performed to the potential he flashed during 2009, before being hit with injury. 2009 shaped up as a breakthrough season but a painful rib cartilage injury forced him to relinquish the No.9 jersey to Will Genia.
Ben made his Super Rugby debut off the bench against the Brumbies in March 2008 and went on to establish himself as the Reds starting scrumhalf, the start of an ongoing duel with Genia. As the Reds number-one choice No.9 that year, he was rewarded with selection for Australia A in the late season IRB Pacific Nations Cup.
As a junior, Ben built-up an impressive Rugby resume which included representing Queensland and Australia at Schoolboy level, while in 2007 he was selected as a member of the Australian Sevens team.
Ben created history in the 2007 Queensland Premier Rugby grand final by scoring 35 points in Sunnybank’s record breaking 85-19 victory over Gold Coast. His efforts were made up of two tries, 11 conversions and a penalty goal.
DID YOU KNOW?
Ben could potentially be going head-to-head with younger brother Matt Lucas in 2013 after the young scrumhalf was picked up by the NSW Waratahs in the offseason.
***Updated 14/05/2013***