England class of ‘98
TIM STIMPSON, below (Newcastle Falcons):
A Lion in 1997, finished with 19 England caps, won a record five consecutive Premiership titles with Newcastle and then Leicester.
MATT PERRY (Bath):
Had made his debut in 1997, a Lion in 2001 and finished with 36 England caps. Played at centre in the 76-0 thrashing by Australia.
NICK BEAL (Northampton Saints):
Made his England debut in 1996 and was a Lions tourist the following year. 15 England caps in total.
JOSH LEWSEY (Wasps):
A major success and breakthrough player on tour playing two Tests at fly-half and one at centre. 55 England caps, 3 Lions.
SPENCER BROWN (Richmond):
Had risen quickly to prominence while serving with the Marines in Deal, then with Richmond. Finished with two caps.
AUSTIN HEALEY, right (Leicester Tigers):
A Lion in 1997 and again in 2001. 51 England caps during which time he scored 15 tries. Now a BTSport pundit.
TOM BEIM (Sale Sharks):
Sale man won his two caps on this tour, scoring in the first Test against NZ. Now a polo professional at Cirencester
MATT MOORE (Sale Sharks):
Industrious Sale wing, uncapped on tour. Later moved to Harlequins.
PAUL SAMPSON (Wasps):
Sprinter on the wing who was capped against South Africa. Two more caps v Canada in 2001 when he suffered a bad leg break.
DOMINIC CHAPMAN (Richmond):
Scored 17 tries in 22 league games for Richmond that season, capped against Australia. Retired from first class rugby in 1999.
STUART POTTER (Leicester Tigers):
Nottingham and Tigers stalwart who earned a cap as a blood replacement v Australia. 15 England A caps.
STEVE RAVENSCROFT (Saracens):
Yorkshireman playing for Sarries. Two England caps on tour. Finished his career at London Welsh. Lawyer.
JONNY WILKINSON (Newcastle Falcons):
Whatever happened to him? Played against Australia on this tour before getting injured in the first Test v NZ. 91 England caps, 6 Lions.
ALEX KING, right (Wasps):
Won five England caps but surprisingly didn’t get capped on this tour. Coach with Clermont, Northampton and Montpellier.
JOS BAXENDELL (Sale Sharks):
Talented Sale playmaker who won his two caps on tour. Helped Steve Diamond coach Russia for a while.
MATT DAWSON, below (Northampton Saints):
Tour skipper who also developed as a player. 77 England caps, three Lions tours. Question of Sport captain.
SCOTT BENTON (Gloucester):
A very good scrum-half in an era when England were blessed at 9. Just the one cap in the drubbing against Australia.
PETER RICHARDS (London Irish):
Another gutsy 9, it was eight years after the tour that he won the first of his 13 England caps.
TONY DIPROSE (Saracens):
Extremely gifted No.8 who suffered more than most from the tour, captaining v Australia. 10 England caps.
STEVE OJOMOH (Bath):
A very influential player during Bath’s glory years, never quite replicated that with England. 12 caps.
RICHARD POOL-JONES (Stade Francais):
Paris-based Englishman who impressed with Stade in Europe. Just the one cap, against Australia.
BEN STURNHAM (Saracens):
A genuine athletic talent in the back row, three caps on tour but never capped subsequently. Moved to Bath.
BEN CLARKE (Richmond):
Experienced back rower from ‘93 Lions and 1995 World Cup. A fine tour in adversity. 40 England caps, 3 Lions.
PAT SANDERSON (Sale Sharks):
Toured Australia in 1997 with England Schools. Captained England in two Tests on their 2006 tour of Oz. 16
England caps.
LEWIS MOODY (Leicester Tigers):
Couldn’t break into the Test team on tour but eventually won 74 England caps and three for the Lions.
DAVE SIMS (Gloucester):
Hardworking Gloucester stalwart who won his three caps on this tour and didn’t take a backward step.
ROB FIDLER (Gloucester):
Another Gloucester man who ensured the England forwards stayed competitive. Two caps on tour but not capped again.
GARATH ARCHER, left (Newcastle Falcons):
Abrasive forward who played in the first two Tests on tour. Won 21 caps in total during an era of plenty at lock.
DANNY GREWCOCK (Saracens):
No saint but a tad unlucky to get sent off against New Zealand on tour. Won 69 caps and five with the Lions.
PHIL VICKERY (Gloucester):
Bull of a young prop getting his first taste of Test rugby. Survived to win 73 England caps and 5 with the Lions.
WILL GREEN (Wasps):
Useful prop who made one Test appearance off the bench on tour against New Zealand. Four caps in total before retiring
DARREN CROMPTON (Richmond):
Former England schools prop and captain, no Test appearances on tour, won solitary cap nine years later in South Africa.
GRAHAM ROWNTREE (Leicester Tigers):
Started all four Tests on tour. 54 Test appearances for England and three for the Lions. Assistant coach at Quins.
DUNCAN BELL (Sale Sharks):
Uncapped on tour, later moved to Bath. Eventually won five caps including a start against NZ in 2009.
TONY WINDO (Gloucester):
Never did win an England cap but over 400 senior appearances for Gloucester and then Worcester.
RICHARD COCKERILL (Leicester Tigers):
Firebrand hooker who started all 4 Tests and won 27 caps. Now coaching Edinburgh after long spell at Tigers.
PHIL GREENING (Gloucester):
Deputy to Cockerill on tour. Eventually won 24 caps, now helping Mike Friday coach the USA Sevens squad.
GEORGE CHUTER (Saracens):
Back-up hooker, his time was to come in 2007 when he played a part in all seven of England’s World Cup game. 24 caps in total.