The Premiership Rugby Hall of Fame, is reserved for just the elite few players who have unforgettable impacts upon the league. Launched in 2013, the first inductees were those unmistakeable players, who had won the Premiership Player of the Season Award, from 1997 to 2012.
In every season since then, Premiership Rugby honours additional inductees, with the ceremony taking place the night before the Premiership Rugby Final. The awards night takes place at Twickenham Stadium, in what is a fitting venue for the legends of the English top flight.
For a player to be inducted they need to have retired for one full season and have played more than 150 Premiership Rugby matches. Here are the latest three inductees, that make up the ‘Class of 2023’, in the Premiership Rugby Hall of Fame.
Matt Banahan
An icon of West Country rugby, Matt Banahan made over 250 Premiership appearances for Bath, and a subsequent 44 for Gloucester Rugby throughout his legendary career. The powerhouse winger was a revered threat, during his days as a Premiership Rugby player, and would get his supporting fans out their seats, be it at the Rec or Kingsholm Stadium.
With 71 Premiership tries to his name, Banahan is the eighth highest try-scoring Premiership player of all time. Banahan finished his career two tries ahead of Harlequins England Sevens star Paul Sackey, and four behind Sale Sharks legend Steve Hanley. The giant winger toward over his opponents, and better resembled a lock at 6ft 7″.
The Jersey-born star gained international recognition with England, and made 16 appearances for his country. Banahan made his full England test debut against Argentina in 2009, marking the occasion with a try and a Man of the Match Award. Despite leaving his on-field rugby career behind, Banahan continued his career within the sport as a citing commissioner for the RFU.