Birkbeck student Alex Corbisiero called up by Lions for Australia tour
Rugby star and Birkbeck student Alex Corbisiero has been selected for the British and Irish Lions squad
Rugby star and Birkbeck student Alex Corbisiero has been selected for the British and Irish Lions squad and will travel to Australia shortly.
The prop and part-time BA History student was delighted to be called up for the prestigious 10-fixture summer tour of Australia. Corbisiero was on international duty with England in Argentina when he received the news. Speaking to Birkbeck one hour before leaving Argentina, he said: “I am very excited and very proud. It is such a prestigious honour to be called up for the Lions squad.”
The third match of the Lions tour is against the Queensland Reds and takes place on Saturday 8 June.
Rugby star
At only 24, Corbisiero has already enjoyed a successful international rugby career. He has 18 England caps, was part of the winning Six Nations team in 2011 and played in the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in the same year.
Corbisiero joined London Irish in 2005. Next season he will play for Northampton Saints.
Combining rugby and history
Corbisiero started his part-time BA in History at Birkbeck in 2009. He is in the final year of his course and will complete his final exams once his summer’s rugby duties are over. Corbisiero said: “It is always a challenge to combine rugby and studying and you have to manage your time well. Birkbeck has been very supportive and understanding and I am grateful for that. I have two exams left in September.”
Sessional lecturer Mike Berlin, of Birkbeck’s Department of History, Classics and Archaeology, has taught Corbisiero. He said: “This is great news. We all wish Alex all the best. It has been a great pleasure having him as a student. We all admired the way that he managed to combine his rigorous training schedule, his recent knee operation and recovery, with evening study. He also took the gentle ribbing from classmates with good humour. I am sure that they all join me in wishing him and his colleagues the best of luck!”