Ben Earl has become one of the most dynamic forwards in English rugby. Born Benjamin Arthur Earl on 7 January 1998 in Redhill, Surrey, he is now an established Saracens player, senior England international and British & Irish Lion. His career has been built on pace, power, discipline and constant improvement.
He plays mainly as a flanker or number eight, though his speed and handling have also allowed coaches to use him in wider roles. His hard carrying, defensive work and explosive acceleration make him a natural fit for modern Test rugby.
Ben Earl Age, Height and Weight
Ben Earl is 28 years old in 2026. Saracens gives his height as 1.88 metres, or about 6 feet 2 inches, and his club weight as 235 lb, equal to about 107 kg. The British & Irish Lions have given a lower weight of 102 kg, showing how playing weight can change during a season.
Ben Earl Early Life and Education
Ben Earl attended The New Beacon School before moving to Tonbridge School, where he studied from 2011 to 2016. Rugby was not his only sporting strength. He played cricket for Kent at youth level, competed seriously in swimming and was credited with a 100-metre time of 10.8 seconds while at school.
Ben Earl and His Academic Path
After Tonbridge, Earl studied Comparative Literature at Queen Mary University of London from 2016 to 2019. His degree included work on Caribbean poetry, and reading remains one of his strongest interests. He has said that books help him switch off from the pressure of professional sport.
His education continued after university. He completed a diploma in Personal Training and Strength & Conditioning at Setanta College from 2020 to 2021, followed by a master’s degree in Sports Directorship at Manchester Metropolitan University from 2023 to 2025.
These qualifications show that he has planned carefully for life beyond playing. Coaching, fitness, writing, journalism, sports leadership and finance have all attracted his interest at different stages.
Ben Earl Saracens Career
Earl joined the Saracens academy at 14 and made his senior debut in 2016. Breaking into a squad filled with experienced internationals demanded patience, but he gradually established himself as one of the club’s most valuable home-grown forwards.
He spent the 2020–21 season on loan at Bristol Bears after Saracens were relegated. The move gave him regular senior rugby, and he helped Bristol win the European Challenge Cup before returning to his parent club.
Ben Earl Premiership Success
The 2021–22 season became a major breakthrough. Earl was named Gallagher Premiership Player of the Season after a campaign marked by powerful carrying, relentless defence and high-energy performances. He also scored a memorable hat-trick against Harlequins in the Premiership semi-final.
He later helped Saracens win the 2022–23 Premiership title against Sale Sharks. His club career also includes multiple Premiership honours and several Team of the Season selections. In 2025, Saracens agreed a long-term contract keeping him at the club until 2029.
Ben Earl England Career
Earl represented England at Under-16, Under-18 and Under-20 level. He was part of the Under-20 side that completed a Grand Slam in 2017 and later captained the age-group team during the 2018 Six Nations.
His senior England debut came against Scotland at Murrayfield on 8 February 2020. He was part of the squad that won the 2020 Six Nations, but his international progress then stalled. After reaching 13 caps, he went more than two years without another Test appearance.
That difficult spell became a turning point. Earl improved his fitness, decision-making and technical work before returning to the national team as a more complete player.
Ben Earl at the 2023 Rugby World Cup
The 2023 Rugby World Cup in France transformed his international standing. Earl became one of England’s most influential players as the team reached the semi-final. His speed from number eight, metres after contact and defensive work gave England a major weapon.
He scored his first senior international try in the bronze-medal match against Argentina, helping England secure third place. The tournament established him as a first-choice back-row player.
Ben Earl in the 2024 Six Nations
His form continued in the 2024 Six Nations. He completed 73 carries, scored two tries and earned a place in the Team of the Championship. He was also nominated for Six Nations Player of the Championship. Later that year, he won the England Men’s Player of the Year award. It marked a remarkable rise after the period when his place in the national side had been uncertain.
Ben Earl and the British & Irish Lions
In 2025, Earl was selected for the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia. He played in two Tests from the bench as the Lions won the series and also earned Player of the Match honours against the AUNZ Invitational XV. Becoming a Test Lion placed him among the leading British and Irish players of his generation. By 2026, he had passed 50 England caps and remained central to Steve Borthwick’s back-row plans.
Ben Earl Parents and Family
Ben Earl comes from a highly accomplished family. His mother, Belinda Earl OBE, is a leading British retail executive. She began working at Debenhams as a teenager and later became its chief executive, becoming one of the youngest women to lead a major FTSE business. Belinda later held senior roles with Jaeger and Marks & Spencer and received an OBE in 2017 for services to retail. Her ability to combine a demanding career with family life left a lasting impression on her son.
Ben Earl Father David Earl
His father, David Earl, is a former solicitor with a background in commercial property law. He became a senior partner at Wedlake Bell and also passed his love of reading to his sons. Both parents were cautious when Ben chose professional rugby because elite sport can be uncertain. They supported his ambition on the condition that he also completed a university degree, leading him to balance Saracens training with full-time study in London.
Ben Earl Brother James
Ben Earl has a younger brother, James Earl, who has pursued golf at a high level. James studied in the United States and has worked towards a professional golf career, adding another strong sporting path to the Earl family.
Ben Earl Wife, Girlfriend and Partner
Ben Earl is in a relationship with Josie de Kock, a UK-based marketing professional who works in marketing operations. Earl has kept their relationship largely away from media attention, preferring to separate his private life from his high-profile rugby career.
Earl also confirmed that he has a partner during an April 2026 interview when he casually referred to “my Mrs” while talking about their North London home and his huge collection of books. The comment gives clear confirmation that he is in a committed relationship.
Ben Earl Interests Beyond Rugby
Reading is one of Earl’s main interests. He has said that he can finish a book every ten days and owns hundreds of titles, ranging from sports biographies and crime fiction to history, finance and classic literature. He is also a keen golfer, snooker fan and cricket lover. Rugby league is another major passion, and he supports the Canberra Raiders. He has said that not trying rugby league could become one of his sporting regrets.
Ben Earl Plans After Rugby
Ben Earl has prepared carefully for life after professional sport. His education in sports directorship, fitness and literature gives him several possible career paths, including coaching, sports management, writing and journalism.
More recently, he has developed a strong interest in financial markets and commodities trading. He has spoken with people working in the City and considered a future in finance, showing the same curiosity that has shaped his academic life.
Ben Earl Legacy and Future
Earl’s story is about far more than natural athletic ability. He has developed from a talented academy player into a Premiership star, England regular and British & Irish Lion while building qualifications for his future away from the pitch.
With a Saracens contract running until 2029 and an important place in England’s back row, his best years may still lie ahead. His mix of speed, power, intelligence and competitive energy gives him the tools to remain one of the defining English forwards of his era.
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