Daniel Jonathan Grewcock experienced a lot of bad luck at the 2003 Rugby World Cup and was only able to make one appearance on the pitch after breaking a hand in the Uruguay match, adding to his earlier problem in Australia with one of his toes. His injuries left Head Coach Clive Woodward with no choice but to replace Danny mid competition and fly out Simon Shaw. The Bath captain is one of a group of talented
players, along with the likes of Ben Kay, who have partnered former skipper Martin Johnson in the England boiler room. He’s an accomplished line out jumper as the Lions recognised in 2001 when he played in all three test matches against the Wallabies and in 6 of the 10 tour matches.

With the retirement of Johnson, Danny slipped effortlessly into the lock position for the 2004 RBS 6 Nations and emphatically justified his selection with a try scoring stormer of a match against Scotland. Although injury prevented him from playing against Ireland, he
made a strong return to the line out against Wales and his early exit through injury against France was greatly felt. His career started with Coventry and Barkers Butts and he was soon making a name for himself at the age of 19 playing for the Warwickshire U21 side. Having represented Warwickshire, the Midlands and the England Students side, he donned a full England shirt for the first time in 1997 on the tour to Argentina, scoring his first international try in Buenos Aires. He joined Saracens later that summer but switched to Bath for the 2001/2002 season. Danny was educated at Woodlands School, Coventry.

Lawrence Bruno Nero Dallaglio, the current England captain, is one of the most striking stalwarts in the England side and during the 2003 Rugby World Cup he was on the pitch for every minute of every England match. His distinguished career now spans 70 caps including 14 as captain between 1997 and 1999. Dallaglio was Clive Woodward’s first ever captain, leading the side out against Australia for the first time in 1997. He captained England on a further 13 occasions between 1998 and 1999, before handing over to Martin Johnson. A leader by example, Dallaglio also played in all of England’s games during the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

A powerful and forthright back row ‘Lol’ came to prominence as a member of the 1993 Rugby World Cup winning England Sevens side before making his full England debut in 1995 as a replacement against South Africa. As a Lion in 1997 he played in all three tests against South Africa. Dallaglio recovered from a serious knee injury picked up during the 2001 Lions tour that threatened his future playing prospects. Despite losing the England captaincy in 1999, it is testament to his character that he came through
that period and his long term injury absence much stronger, fitter and faster. He was educated at Ampleforth College and Kingston University.

When you note that Steve Thompson played a part in all but one of England’s Rugby World Cup performances in Australia, you realise how central he has become to any England side. Indeed the robust, mobile, hooker missed only two of England’s 17 tests in 2003 and touched down for his second try in England’s opening Rugby World Cup match against Georgia in Perth.

Steve started playing rugby at 15 at the Northampton School for Boys and went on to play for Ben Cohen’s old side, Northampton Old Scouts RFC. He also trained with the youth section of Saints and at 18 was selected for the apprentice scheme at the club’s
Academy. Despite competing against the Argentinian Federico Mendez in the 1999/2000 season for his club place, he still managed to force his way into the England A squad, including facing Ireland on his home Franklin’s Gardens turf.

Steve was a member of the victorious England Under 21 side that beat South Africa and was selected for England’s summer tour to North America in 2001 where he was one of the many success stories. His career progressed rapidly and he is now England’s
first choice hooker. He scored his maiden test try against Italy in 2003 and made a significant contribution to England’s southern hemisphere tour in June 2003 playing in both tests against New Zealand and Australia. He was educated at Northampton School for Boys.

Richard Anthony Hill is England’s `Mr Dependable’ and one of the great back row players of the modern game. Never was this more obvious than during the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Restricted by injury to just three England appearances, he was sorely missed when unable to take part. However he played a typically full part in the epic semi final and final victories.

He has been an automatic choice since making his debut in 1997 against Scotland and scored against both Ireland and Wales in his first four internationals. A formidable contributor to a perennially strong England back row, he has excelled in attack as well as defence, scoring 11 tries. He has also demonstrated his versatility by slotting in at No. 8
when required and in the 2003 RBS 6 Nations Championship, he actually wore the 8, 7 and 6 shirts in the opening three games. He played in two Lions tests in South Africa in 1997 and twice against Australia on the 2001 tour when he was injured in the second.

With the retirement of Neil Back he featured regularly in the 2004 RBS 6 Nations at 7.
He has represented his country at every level, spanning Schools 16 and 18 Groups, Colts, Students, Under 21s, Emerging Players, the England A, Sevens and finally, England. He was educated in Salisbury at Stratfordsub-Castle and Bishop Wordsworth’s Schools before studying at Brunel University College. He took on the role of England captain for the first time in December 2003 in the non test game against the New Zealand Barbarians. Richard represented England at the draw for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in Dublin in May 2004.

Philip Christophers was called up by Clive Woodward for the 2002 tour to Argentina following a hugely impressive season for Bristol Shoguns and a display for an England XV against the Barbarians at Twickenham where he scored two tries. He scored 7 tries in 20 appearances for Bristol in 2002-2003 and also made three appearances for England A in the ‘shadow’ Six Nations tournament. He then capped his full debut with
a superb try against the Pumas in Velez Sarsfeld. He was named in the National Academy squad in the Autumn of 2002 and was called up for his second cap against South Africa when James Simpson-Daniel succumbed to glandular fever. He made his first Six Nations appearance as a replacement against Wales in 2003.

Phil started playing rugby at 4 and was educated at Lancaster RGS. He played at the Leicester Academy and Brive before joining Bristol then transferred to Leeds Tykes for the 2003/2004 season. Injury prevented him playing a full season with Tykes and he is to join Worcester next season.

Ben Christopher Cohen has established himself as one of the great left wings in world rugby, culminating in his 2003 Rugby World Cup performances - he started in all but one of England’s games. In full flight his 16 stones take some stopping, as Ireland found out in 2000 when he ran in two tries on his international debut. He went on to become the
joint leading Six Nations try scorer in that season along with Austin Healey and Brian O’Driscoll. He took up the game aged 12 at Northampton Old Scouts after reading a school notice board call up and he’s still in contact with the coach who taught him at his junior club. He became contracted to Northampton and joined their Academy in 2000 where he came under the influence of the club’s then Director of Rugby Ian McGeechan. The following year he was drafted into the Lions squad scoring twice in the match against New South Wales Country Cockatoos at Coffs Harbour.

He played in all of England’s matches in the 2002/3 season, scoring a spectacular try against the All Blacks and twice against the Australians during the Investec Challenge series at Twickenham. One of his most memorable tries was scored against Australia in June 2003 as England swept aside the host nation 25-14 to complete their southern
hemisphere tour unbeaten. In the 2004 RBS 6 Nations Ben was named man of the match against Wales for his two tries. He was educated at Kingsthorpe Upper School, Northampton.

Matthew James Sutherland Dawson celebrated his 50th cap against Ireland on the same day England won the Grand Slam in 2003 and earned his 60th against the same opposition one year on. He is England’s most capped scrum half and played a critical role for his country in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. A master of the quick `tap and
go’ penalty he has stretched the very best of defences over the years both at international and club level. Educated at RGS High Wycombe, where he played alongside club mate and former England full back Nick Beal, he gained his first England cap in 1995.

He toured with the Lions in 1997, playing all three tests against South Africa and scoring two tries and he was also a member of the 2001 Lions tour to Australia. In 2001 he stood in as England’s captain when Martin Johnson was injured, leading the side on nine occasions and to the Six Nations crown. When called upon, he can also demonstrate his versatility by kicking goals. He played his early club rugby with Marlow and also kept wicket for Buckinghamshire and played soccer for Chelsea Boys.

Owen Joshua Lewsey had an impressive 2003 Rugby World Cup including scoring five tries in the 111-13 drubbing of Uruguay, equalling the record for the most tries in a test match held jointly by Rory Underwood against Fiji in 1989 and Daniel Lambert against France in 1907.

He made his England debut with a stunning Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship performance at Twickenham in 2002, seizing the chance handed to him by an injury to Jason Robinson to score twice in the 40-5 win over Italy. He followed it up with the opening try in his next match against Scotland and was part of the Grand Slam winning side in Dublin in 2003. He earned his international call up after impressing for London
Wasps and England A and was a key member of the England side that won the Hong Kong Sevens in 2002.

Josh was first capped at the age of 21 on England’s ‘Tour from Hell’ in Australia 1998 – the year he joined London Wasps from Bristol – and also appeared in all three tests in the summer 2001 tour to North America.

He played a key part in both tests against New Zealand and Australia on the June 2003 southern hemisphere tour and few will forget his tackle on Aussie full back Matt Rogers towards the end of their 25-14 win over Australia in Melbourne. Josh made an ideal start to the 2004 RBS 6 Nations, starting on the right wing against Italy and Scotland and scoring a try in both. He was named Man of the Match at Murrayfield. He has
played a critical role in his club reaching the finals of both the Heineken Cup final and Zurich Premiership 2004 final.

The versatile attacking three quarter grew up in Hertfordshire, where he attended Watford Boys Grammar School and played for the Amersham & Chiltern club. His brothers Tom and Ed play in National League One for London Welsh and Exeter Chiefs respectively.

Michael John Catt is a rare player, a utility back able to thrive at the highest level at fly half, centre, full back or wing. First capped as a replacement for Rob Andrew against Wales in 1994, he scored 21 points in the first test in Argentina back in 1997 before flying to South Africa to make his Lions debut. He re-established himself at inside centre for England in 2000 and toured with the Lions again in 2001 although injury prevented him from playing any tests. He is the only England international to have worn every jersey number from 10 to 15 in his test career. Catt missed the 2002 Six Nations through injury but returned to Bath in great form for the start of the 2002-2003 season, surmounting hamstring problems and earning a late call up to the England side for the Rugby World Cup. His striking display against Wales in the quarter final made a significant difference to England’s fortunes and earned him a place in the England semi final starting line up against France. He was one of the 19 players involved in the final in Sydney, coming on as a replacement.

Catt won his 50th cap in February 2001, against Italy. Educated at Grey School, Port Elizabeth, he holds a British passport courtesy of his Englishborn mother. Injury delayed his involvement in the 2004 RBS 6 Nations, but he returned by captaining England A against France A in March before coming on as a replacement against Wales at Twickenham. After so many years with Bath, Catt joins London Irish next season.

James Simpson-Daniel is another important emerging talent for England who narrowly missed selection to the final 30 for the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He celebrated his first Championship start with a try in the 2003 RBS 6 Nations match against Italy (one of his favourite rugby moments).

He had previously won two successive caps in the previous autumn before missing the South Africa game through glandular fever. He burst on to the Gloucester and England scene late in 2002 against New Zealand and made a magnificent try scoring debut - in direct opposition to Jonah Lomu – in a non capped England XV against the Barbarians in Twickenham back in May of that year.

His hat trick of tries against Bath in the 2002 Zurich Premiership prompted a £2,000 donation to charity from the sponsors. One of his scores was the Premiership 'Try of the
Season'. He toured Chile with the England Under 19s and shared in England's Sevens success in Hong Kong. James made his England A debut as a centre in the 78-6 win over Scotland in March 2003, having suffered the disappointment of missing the senior tour to Argentina the previous summer through injury. Injuries again dogged a promising
career till he finally returned, playing full back in the 2004 RBS 6 Nations when he came off the bench against Ireland.

Oliver Barkley will always be known as the first player to win a full England cap without having played a game at senior club level. It happened during England’s summer tour to North America in 2001 when, having been called back from a stint with the Kiwi Marist club in Christchurch for the tour, he came on as second half replacement in the 48-19 win against the US Eagles. He became a regular part of the senior England squad during the 2004 RBS 6 Nations where he came off the bench during the Italy and Ireland games but it was the Wales game at Twickenham when he really made his mark and his debut in the starting line up. With 24 hours notice he replaced an injured Paul Grayson and earned 16 points.

History repeated itself against France when Grayson’s injury returned and Olly started at the Stade de France. Again he delivered under pressure, impressing Clive Woodward.
Born in London but brought up in Cornwall, he attended Wadebridge Comprehensive and played for Wadebridge Camels before going on to Bristol-based Colston’s Collegiate where he played in two successive Daily Mail U18 Schools Cup winning sides in 1999 and 2000 (as captain). He was hugely instrumental in helping Bath top the 2003/04 Zurich Premiership.

Mark Peter Regan sealed his 2003 Rugby World Cup opener with a try during England’s 84-6 destruction of Georgia in October 2003 when he came on as a replacement. It was the first by a Leeds Tyke for England. He later started for England in their victory against Samoa.

His selection against South Africa in June 2000 bridged a gap of two years and four
months away from England’s test team. His earlier career highlights included playing in the Lions final test against South Africa in 1997.

Mark began playing at the age of eight at Keynsham, moved to St Brendan’s Old Boys minis, then played through Bristol’s age group sides before moving on to Bath in 1997. He represented England 16 Group President’s XV, the 18 Group, Colts, Students, Under 21s and Emerging Players, as well as Gloucestershire. He scored his maiden test try against Italy in the 80-23 Six Nations win at Twickenham in February 2001 and
toured North America with the England squad in the summer of that year.

He joined Leeds Tykes from Bath at the start of the 2002-2003 season – a move that revitalised his career and helped him return to the England squad. He was a replacement in the games against France and Italy as well and faced Wales in the 43-9 Rugby World Cup warm up win at the Millennium Stadium in August 2003.

Martin Edward Corry bounced back into Clive Woodward’s squad in 2003 before gaining selection to the Rugby World Cup squad. It followed consistent performances for Leicester Tigers throughout the 2002/03 season and a typical gritty performance on his return to the England shirt against the Barbarians in May 2003. Educated at Tunbridge Wells Grammar School and the University of Northumbria he first played rugby for Tunbridge Wells minis before joining Newcastle Falcons, Bristol Shoguns,
then finally Leicester Tigers. During his career he’s represented England at Schools, Students, U21 and A level as well as making a name for himself on the 2001 Lions tour to Australia. He was called up after the tour had started due to injury and impressed Graham Henry so much that he played him in all three Tests. His strong performances in the 43-9 defeat of Wales at the Millennium Stadium in 2003 and the September defeat of France at Twickenham earned him his Rugby World Cup selection.