Jamie Benson

Jamie Benson
Born (2002-09-23) 23 September 2002 (age 24)
Kensington, England
Height183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight90 kg (198 lb)
SchoolHampton School
UniversityUniversity of Cambridge
Rugby union career
Position Fly-half
Current team Ulster
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2022–2026 Harlequins 41 (147)
2023–2024 → Cambridge (loan) 13 (42)
2024–2025 → London Scottish (loan) 3 (12)
2026– Ulster 5 (4)
Correct as of 24 October 2026
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2022 England U20s 4 (27)
Correct as of 26 March 2025

Jamie Benson (born 23 September 2002) is an English-born, Irish-qualified professional rugby union footballer who plays as a fly-half for United Rugby Championship club Ulster. He qualifies to represent Ireland and England, for whom he played at under-20 level. In 2026 he received a call up to the Irish national team.

Early life

The son of two doctors, Benson attended Hampton School in London. He then attended Downing College at University of Cambridge where he studied neuroscience, graduating with first-class honours, and featured for Cambridge University R.U.F.C. three times in The Varsity Match between 2022 and 2024, becoming the record points-scorer in the fixture.

Club career

Harlequins

Benson played for Harlequins seven times at just 20 years-old in the Premiership Rugby Cup, before joining Cambridge Rugby Club on loan during the 2023-24 season and London Scottish the following season.

He made his Premiership Rugby debut in November 2024. In March 2025, he appeared off-the-bench away against Saracens, scoring 13 points with his boot to help during a 23–12 away victory, the first time the club had beaten Saracens since 2009.

In December 2025, he scored his first try in the Champions Cup during a 68–14 victory against Bayonne. In May 2026, he scored a hat-trick of tries from full-back during a 76–17 victory against Newcastle Red Bulls.

Ulster

In April 2026, he signed for United Rugby Championship side Ulster ahead of the following season.

International career

Benson qualifies for both England, through birth, and Ireland through ancestry, with his mother born in Belfast.

In February 2022, Benson featured for England at under-20 level, making his debut against Scotland U20, and making his first start the following weekend against Italy U20. He also started their next two fixtures in the tournament which saw England defeat Wales U20 and lose against Ireland U20. Benson was selected for the England A squad in November 2025.

Having been included in an Irish alignment camp in the summer of 2026, he was selected for the senior Ireland rugby union team in October for the 2026 Nations Championship.

References

  1. ↑ "Jamie Benson". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 17 October 2026.
  2. ↑ "Jamie Benson". All.Rugby. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  3. ↑ "J. Benson | Ulster Rugby". ulster.rugby. 2002-09-23. Retrieved 2026-10-28.
  4. 1 2 Kelly, David (31 October 2026). "'The switch from England to Ireland wasn't really a hurdle for me. I'm so proud of my Irish family and my Irish heritage'". Independent.ie. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
  5. ↑ "The usual countries dominate the World Schools XV - NextGenXV". Rugby Pass. 27 November 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  6. ↑ "Player Interviews: Izzy Boothroyd and Jamie Benson". curufc. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  7. ↑ Apicella, Liam (1 March 2024). "Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club's Jamie Benson eyeing up another Varsity Match victory over Oxford University". Cambridge Independent. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  8. 1 2 Cole, Rob (1 April 2022). "Toby Flood exclusive: Life after rugby, studying at Cambridge - and why the Varsity Match matters". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  9. ↑ Apicella, Liam (22 September 2023). "Cambridge Rugby Club complete loan signing of Cambridge University Rugby Club and Harlequins fly-half Jamie Benson". Cambridge Independent. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  10. ↑ "Quins ace Benson puts Exiles in control". The Rugby Paper. 19 January 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  11. ↑ Alywyn, Michael (22 March 2025). "Benson shines as Harlequins record first away league win over Saracens in 13 years". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  12. ↑ Brooks, Gideon (22 March 2025). "Benson inspires stunning Quins comeback against Saracens". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  13. ↑ McLaughlin, Luke (14 December 2025). "Ten-try Harlequins cruise to Champions Cup rout of understrength Bayonne". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  14. ↑ Lanigan, Adam (10 May 2026). "Quins humiliate Newcastle in meeting of bottom two". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  15. ↑ "Ulster sign Irish-qualified fly-half Benson". BBC Sport. 8 April 2026. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  16. ↑ Jackman, Bernard (29 March 2026). "Bernard Jackman: Munster beware, financial problems have the potential to tear rugby clubs apart". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
  17. ↑ "Benson and McNabney handed first Ireland call-ups". BBC Sport. 21 October 2026. Retrieved 21 October 2026.
  18. ↑ "Benson enjoys some extra expert tuition". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  19. ↑ Powell, Nick (10 February 2022). "Benson follows up supersub appearance with start". SW Londoner. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  20. ↑ "Under-20 Six Nations: England U20s 43-14 Wales U20s". BBC Sport. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2026.
  21. ↑ "Under-20 Six Nations 2022: Ireland beat England and chase Grand Slam". BBC Sport. 12 March 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2026.
  22. ↑ Newcombe, Jon (3 November 2025). "England A name 30-man squad for All Blacks XV clash". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  23. ↑ "Ireland Nations Championship squad: Jack Conan ruled out as uncapped Ulster pair Jamie Benson and James McNabney get call". Independent.ie. 21 October 2026. Retrieved 21 October 2026.