Born on this day - 8th September - Ruck

Born on this day – 8th September

Simon Danielli

Position: Wing
DOB: 08/09/1979 (age 36)
Current club: Retired
Previous clubs: Bristol, Bath, Borders, Ulster
Honours: Scotland
Winger Simon Danielli retired from top-flight rugby because of a back injury in 2012. The Scotland player during an international career that spanned eight year’s between 2003 and 2011 won 32 Scottish caps. Edinburgh-born Danielli also scored eight tries in a Test career, which also included two Rugby World Cups.

Bernard Foley

Position: Fly-half
DOB: 08/09/1989 (age 26)
Current club: Waratahs
Previous clubs: Sydney Stars, Ricoh Black Rams
Honours: Australia, Australia Sevens
Australia fly-half Bernard Foley, who is part of their Rugby World Cup 2015 squad, made his international debut in 2013 and since has won 21 Test caps, scoring 187 points. He got his nickname ‘The Iceman’ because of the ease in which he can kick match-winning goals. This was evident when he kicked the match-winning penalty in the 2014 Super Rugby Final, putting the Waratahs ahead of the Crusaders 33-32 with just 30 seconds remaining.

Chris Latham

Position: Fullback
DOB: 08/09/1975 (age 40)
Current club: Retired
Previous clubs: Waratahs, Reds, Worcester, Kyuden Voltex
Honours: Australia, Australia Sevens
Wallaby legend Chris Latham made his Test debut in 1998 but didn’t become a prominent member of the squad until 2001 when the British and Irish Lions came to town. The fullback in total made 78 Test caps up until 2007 and also went on to become Australia’s second highest all time try scorer with 40 tries. Latham also claimed the commended John Eales medal in 2006.

Simon Raiwalui

Position: Lock
DOB: 08/09/1974 (age 41)
Current club: Retired
Previous clubs: Sale Sharks, Saracens, Racing Metro 92
Honours: Fiji, Pacific Islanders
Former Fiji international Simon Raiwalui made 39 appearances for the Fijians, scoring four tries and playing at two Rugby World Cups between 1997 and 2006. Since he retired as a player, he served as the General Manager at his former French club, Racing Métro 92 before taking over as co-manager of Stade Français.

Os du Randt

Position: Prop
DOB: 08/09/1972 (age 43)
Current club: Retired
Previous clubs: Cheetahs, Cats, Bulls
Honours: South Africa
When he retired, Os Du Randt was the most capped Springbok prop ever, having amassed 80 Tests during a career that spanned 14 years. He is also the only Springbok who has two Rugby World Cup winners medals in his collection. The prop triumphed first as a youngster in 1995 before lifting the Webb Ellis Cup again in France in 2007, this time as a veteran. Due to injuries the powerful forward had retired at the turn of the century but made a stunning return to Test rugby for the Springboks in 2004 before being voted the Players’ Player of the Year.

Ashwin Willemse

Position: Wing
DOB: 08/09/1981 (age 34)
Current club: Retired
Previous clubs: Lions, Biarritz Olympique
Honours: South Africa
Former Springbok wing Ashwin Willemse went from being a teenage gangster to being one of the most exciting players in world rugby during the mid-2000’s. After winning an IRB Under-21 World Cup gold medal for South Africa in 2002, he made his senior Springbok bow in 2003. The wing was then included in their World Cup squad that year, scoring a superb solo try against Samoa. What followed was a series of frustrating injuries, however, he recovered to play a fundamental role in South Africa winning the Rugby World Cup in 2007. He retired from International rugby soon after before in 2012; he launched GreenSmile Foundation with former Springbok rugby player Breyton Paulse. It is dedicated to helping educate and create better opportunities for children from socio-economic hardships