FEW players have endured as turbulent a World Cup as England's Tom Curry who is in contention for a place in the semi-final squad against South Africa in Paris on Saturday.

However the flanker's presence will be controversial following his performance in the quarter-final against Fiji last weekend.

The former Bishop Heber School student from Malpas has been in and out of the news ever since the group stage when the 25-year-old was dismissed in England’s first game for a high tackle against Argentina and was given a two-game ban. 

Curry has since been criticised for a tackle during England's 30-24 win over Fiji on Sunday.

Despite intervention from the TMO, Curry escaped further sanctions.

Fiji officials believe the flanker was lucky to escape punishment for a no-arms tackle on Josua Tuisova on Sunday and has since been publicly criticised by Tuisova's club, Racing 92.

Whitchurch Herald: Tempers flare between England's Tom Curry and Fiji's Levani Botia during the Rugby World Cup 2023Tempers flare between England's Tom Curry and Fiji's Levani Botia during the Rugby World Cup 2023 quarter-final match at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France. PA.

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However the controversy is unlikely to unsettle Curry as the Cheshire schoolboy looks ahead to the weekend semi-final.

Curry will also reflect on his career to date which began in the colours of Crewe and Nantwich when he was coached by his father, David before joining Sale Sharks in 2016 and joined by his twin brother, Ben.

A year later he was called up by England for the first time by Eddie Jones, becoming England's youngest ever flanker and youngest forward since 1912.

In 2021 he made the step up to the British Lions squad.

Curry became the youngest player to captain England in 2022.

Curry claimed some unwanted history by becoming the first England player to be sent off at a World Cup earlier this autumn