What happened next...

England Schools team that started the Test against Australia in 1997

15 Ian Balshaw (Stonyhurst):

Stellar schoolboy player either on the wing or full-back who scored 13 tries in 35 Tests for England at senior level. Also made three Lions appearances in 2001 and, in a long club career, played for Bath, Leeds Tykes, Gloucester and Biarritz. Still based in France.

14 Matt Walker (Dinnington):

Lee Best – later to play for Bristol and Bath – had been the star man all season but was injured against ACT so Walker stepped in. Didn’t make the top grade domestically but appeared for Otley, Worcester, Doncaster and Rotherham, scoring 16 tries in 65 games.

13 Mike Tindall (QEGS Wakefield):

Had played wing earlier in the season for England. Eventually settled at centre alongside Tom May before finding himself teamed up with Wilkinson in Australia. Over 100 appearances for Bath before he switched to Gloucester. Won 75 England caps including a spell as captain.

12 Jonny Wilkinson (Lord Wandsworth):

Moved to centre to accommodate James Lofthouse but for the remainder of his career sides were built around him. In 91 England Tests scored 1,179 points while he spent 11 sometimes injury plagued seasons at Newcastle before a glorious trophy-laden finale to his career at Toulon

11 Simon Danielli (Cheltenham):

The one back who was playing a year young. Strong runner from Cheltenham College. Qualified for England, Italy and Scotland, he took the latter route and scored eight tries in 32 Tests for the Scots.43 tries in 178 appearances for Bath, the Borders and Ulster.

10 James Lofthouse (Sedbergh): Sometimes painted as the enigma of the team but no real mystery. An outstanding schoolboy rugby player who didn’t quite bat on at senior level. It’s an old story. Last heard of working in the City. 9 James Grindal (King Henry V111 Coventry):

Stalwart scrum-half who enjoyed a considerable Premiership career (179 games) with Leicester and Newcastle where he was re-united with Wilkinson whom he had partnered at half-back in the 1997 Schools Five Nations.

1 David Flatman (Dulwich):

Eight England caps and enjoyed 15 years at the Premiership coal face with Saracens and Bath despite a succession of shoulder and neck injuries. Now a highly respected rugby pundit with BT Sport and ITV and podcaster with former Saracens colleague Tom Shanklin

2 Alan Hubbleday (KIng Edward V1 Five Ways):

Lee Mears had been the star during the Five Nations but broke his leg on tour so Hubbleday stepped in. A very decent club career with Moseley, Birmingham & Solihull, Stourbridge and Old Edwardians, where he is still playing.

3 John Dawson (Dulwich):

Made 83 Premiership appearances for four clubs although the vast majority (66) came with Quins between 2000-2005. Retired in 2006 having played for Wasps and Bath that season. Re-emerged to captain Cambridge in the 2008 Varsity match

4 Andrew Sheridan (Dulwich):

Played for Richmond before joining Bristol, briefly as a lock before switching to prop. Then joined Sale where he starred in the 2006 Championship winning team. 40 England caps, 2 Lions tours. Could bench press 225kg and squat 275kg. Ended his career at Toulon

5 Steve Borthwick (Hutton GS):

Made a record 265 Premiership appearances for Bath and Saracens and won 57 caps for England at a time of plenty when it came to locks. Lineout expert who helped plot Japan’s win over South Africa at the 2015 World Cup and now a key assistant with Eddie Jones’ England

6 Alex Sanderson (Kirkham GS):

Seemed destined for the very top and had won five England caps when his playing career was torpedoed by serious neck and back injuries soon after he had joined Saracens from Sale. Switched to coaching with massive success and a key right hand man to Mark McCall during Saracens recent glory years

7 Tony Roques (Sevenoaks):

Spent six years at Saracens where he made 76 appearances before moving to London Irish and Exeter Chiefs. Frequent member of the England Sevens squad and was contracted by his 1997 England schools colleague Simon Amor in 2014 to become assistant coach to the England Sevens squad.

8 Andrew Beattie (Hampton GS): Arrived at Bath via the Richmond club, Exeter University (where he took a Bsc in sports science) and the Exeter Chiefs. Made 238 appearances for Bath including 168 in the Premiership. Very classy backrow operator, unlucky not to be capped. Works as a personal trainer. Coach Geoff Wappett: Subsequently coached at Bradford and Bingley, Rotherham during some of their Premiership years, Brighton College and most recently at Macclesfield. Replacements:

Simon Amor (Hampton GS), D Smaje (RGS High Wycombe), J Collins (West Buckland School), David Giles (Kirkham GS), J Hynes (King Edward Birmingham), Michael MacCarrick (Sevenoaks School), Adam Balding (Caludon Castle School) Tries: Danielli 2, Tindall, Sanderson, Grindal. Cons: Lofthouse 3 Wilkinson 2. Pen: Wilkinson