Anthony Allen
Position: Centre
DOB: 01/09/1986 (age 29)
Current club: Retired
Previous clubs: Gloucester Rugby, Leicester Tigers
Honours: England
Former England International Anthony Allen had to announce his retirement from the sport aged 28 due to a longstanding knee injury. As well as making two Test Caps for England he made 124 first-team appearances in six seasons with Leicester, playing in four Premiership Finals, including the club’s title-winning seasons in 2010 and 2013.
Simon Geoghegan
Position: Wing
DOB: 01/09/1968 (age 46)
Current club: Retired
Previous clubs: London Irish, Bath
Honours: Ireland
Irish wing Simon Geoghegan made his international debut in 1991 and would go on to win 37 test caps up until his international retirement in 1996. The Irishman is perhaps best known for his try in the Five Nations match against England at Twickenham in 1994, that was instrumental in Ireland’s famous 13-12 win. He was inducted to the World Rugby Museum’s Wall of Fame in 2003, courtesy of his exploits in the emerald green.
Simon Shaw
Position: Lock
DOB: 01/09/1973 (age 41)
Current club: Retired
Previous clubs: Bristol, London Wasps, Toulon
Honours: England, British and Irish Lions
Kenyan-born lock Simon Shaw in his early years had gained honours with England at U18, U19 Colts, Students and U21s before he was called up to the full squad ahead of the World Cup in 1995. However, he missed the tournament due to a knee injury but did finally make his England bow against Italy in 1996 before subsequently starting all of England’s 1997 Six Nations matches. He went on to be a part of England’s World Cup-winning squad in 2003 before playing 80 minutes for the final in 2007. He was also selected as part of England’s 30-man squad for the following tournament in 2011. The powerful second-row also went on three tours with the British and Irish Lions in 1997, 2005 and 2009. In total Shaw amassed 71 Test Caps for England, scoring two tries.
Martyn Williams
Position: Flanker
DOB: 01/09/1975 (age 40)
Current club: Retired
Previous clubs: Pontypridd, Cardiff Blues
Honours: Wales, British and Irish Lions
Former Wales flanker Martyn Williams was the men in reds most-capped forward with 100 caps until he was surpassed by Gethin Jenkins in November 2013. His international career spanned 16 years between 1996 and 2012 with the forward scoring 73 Test points. Williams was selected for the British and Irish Lions tours to Australia in 2001, to New Zealand in 2005 and to South Africa in the summer of 2009. Following his retirement Williams was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2012 New Year Honours for services to rugby.