My first tour was just pure panic...I had to grow up so fast

BEN RETURNING TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN ON SUMMER TRIP

- By Paul Eddison

BEN CURRY can still remember the moment he understood what it meant to be on a full England tour.

Aged just 18, he and twin brother Tom were bold selections from Eddie Jones eight years ago when England travelled to Argentina deprived of a host of players on Lions duty.

The Sale flankers turned 19 on that tour, and now Ben is set for his second visit to the country when England return to South America this summer.

Last time around he was a fresh-faced teenager who had to grow up very quickly, but this trip will look very different for Curry, who is being rested for Saturday’s home game against a France XV before the squad fly to Buenos Aires next week.

Reflecting on the 2017 tour, the Sharks captain said: “It definitely feels like it’s been eight years, that feels like an absolute lifetime ago.

“It’s a lot more relaxed [now]. I definitely don’t panic at driving up the gates to Pennyhill [Park, England’s training base in Surrey] like I used to.