Rugby · Legends · No. 1
Victor Ubogu
The Lagos-born prop who won 24 England caps and a Heineken Cup with Bath.
- 24England caps
- 2World Cups
- 1998Heineken Cup
- 1977Left Lagos
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Born in Lagos
Victor Ubogu was born in Lagos on 8 September 1964 and moved to England in 1977, aged 12. At West Buckland School in Devon the powerful Nigerian boy found rugby, and he never looked back.
Engineer and Oxford Blue
Ubogu studied chemical engineering at the University of Birmingham, playing for Moseley, then went to St Anne’s College, Oxford, where he won his Blue for Oxford University RFC.
Bath and England
A mobile, ball-carrying prop, he joined Bath, the dominant English club of the era, and started the 1998 Heineken Cup final, when Bath beat Brive to become champions of Europe. He won 24 England caps between 1992 and 1999 and played at two Rugby World Cups, a Lagos-born player at the very top of the English game.
After rugby
Ubogu went into business and founded the Shoeless Joe’s sports bar chain in London.
More Nigerian rugby
Rugby in Nigeria
Union, sevens and rugby league in Nigeria.Read more
History of rugby in Nigeria
From Rugby School to the Black Stallions.Read more
The Black Stallions
Nigeria’s national teams, sevens and the African Games.Read more
Clubs and leagues
Cowrie, Racing, Barewa, Police and the Lagos 7s.Read more
Quick answers
Victor Ubogu: quick answers
Where was Victor Ubogu born?
In Lagos, Nigeria, on 8 September 1964. He moved to England in 1977.
How many England caps did Victor Ubogu win?
24, between 1992 and 1999, including two Rugby World Cups.
Did Victor Ubogu win the Heineken Cup?
Yes. He started the 1998 final, when Bath beat Brive.