The Best Uncapped England Rugby XV: The nearly men

The Best Uncapped England Rugby XV: The nearly men

We take a look at some stars from yester-year and the modern day who have never won an England cap.

Dan Robson was snubbed by Eddie Jones yet again last week in favour of Richard Wigglesworth, leaving some fans disappointed and wondering whether the Wasps scrum-half will ever get the call to win his first full Test cap.

That got us here at RUCK thinking about some talented players never got to play for England.

So who would make England’s All-Time Uncapped XV? Here’s our selection.


Fullback: CHRIS CATLING

He joined Gloucester in the summer of 1996 and over the following seven seasons he set standards of full-back play which have never since been consistently equalled for the club. It’s not really clear why he didn’t recieve full international honours, although he regularly represented England at A level. Catling still occupies a special place in the memories of all those who regularly watched Gloucester in the early years of professionalism


Winger: RICHARD HAUGHTON

The former Saracens, Wasps, Perpignan and England Sevens star was never able to win a full international cap, which will be hard to believe for any fan who saw how quick he was in full flight.


Centre: CHRIS BELL

Having worked his way through the England Schools and the England U19 team, he became an important member of England’s first-ever U21 Grand Slam winning squad in 2004. He was called up to the England A team in 2005 for the one-off international against France A at Bath, winning 30-20. Bell then went onto be nominated for the PRA Young Player of the Year award, but his career going forward was constantly disrupted by injury.


Centre: DOMINIC WALDOUCK 

Boasting more than a century of Aviva Premiership appearances, the bulk of those coming during a successful spell with Wasps, former England Saxon Waldouck then moved on to Northampton Saints, London Irish and Newcastle Falcons. A host of injuries, which includes snapping his Achilles tendon, is probably the only reason he wasn’t able to take his game to the next level.


Winger: ADAM THOMPSTONE

Signed by Leicester from London Irish in 2012, Thompstone was voted Newcomer of the Year in the supporters’ awards after nine tries in his debut season, including a hat-trick on his league debut against Exeter Chiefs. He also ended 2012/13 as top try-scorer and an Aviva Premiership champion. In 2016/17, just a week before making his 100th starting appearance for Tigers against Sale Sharks, he was named Tigers Players’ Player of the Year. Injuries more than anything again probably prevented him from winning an England cap.

LIST CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO