Last Friday, Danny Care broke the all-time appearance record for Harlequins, as the scrum half ran out for the 352nd time for the London club. Despite the narrow 28-26 loss to Gloucester, Care achieved the incredible milestone as he started in the nine jersey at Kingsholm Stadium, and made a key run in the build-up to Cadan Murley’s try.
So, after care became Harlequins’ record breaker, let’s take a look at every Premiership Rugby club’s leading appearance holder.
Bath Rugby – Phil Hall (580 caps)
Making his debut against Devon seasiders Torquay on Christmas Eve 1960, Hall first joined the club as a prop but soon became better suited to flanker. Internationally capped at England schoolboy level, and a true leader of men on the rugby pitch, Hall captained the Bath 1st XV for the 1972/73 and 1974/75 seasons. An ever-reliable hard-hitter in the back-row, Hall made his final appearance in blue, black and white against Nottingham at the end of the 1975/76 season, Hall is a true legend at Bath and sadly passed away on the 16th August 2020.
Bristol Bears – Darren Crompton (138)
The tight-head prop arrived at Bristol from Richmond in 1999, starting his first of two stints with the West Country club. Crompton played for Bristol until the 2003/04 season, where he departed for Cardiff Blues. Returning to Bristol just the following season, Crompton remained with the club until the end of the 2011/12 campaign helping them win the National Division One title (now the Championship) in 2004/05, earning them Premiership promotion. A single cap for England at the age of 34, Crompton replaced Stuart Turner, against the Springboks in May 2007.
Exeter Chiefs – Ben Moon (302)
The last ‘Exeter Original’ to be standing in the squad, who helped the Chiefs gain the Premiership promotion, Moon has been a mainstay at Sandy Park since 2008. Making his debut against National League 2 North club Sedgley Park, Moon has had a decorated career in the Chiefs front row. Moon has played a part in Exeter’s greatest achievements, he has won two Premiership titles, and also has Heineken Champions Cup and LV Cup winners medals too.
Gloucester Rugby – Nick Wood (278)
Another prop who tops his club’s appearance record, Nick Wood joined the Cherry and Whites as a fresh-faced 18-year-old in 2003. A true ‘one club man’ Wood remained with Gloucester for his entire career, and was released ahead of the 2016/17 Aviva Premiership season. Scoring 10 tries, Wood’s old-school style in the front row was revered by his opponents. He earned international recognition in England Saxons, and made a senior appearance against the Barbarians.
Harlequins – Danny Care (352+)
The 36-year-old arrived at the Twickenham Stoop from Leeds in 2006, and has been an integral part of their three latest pieces of silverware. Care was a key figure in the Quins side who won the 2011 European Challenge Cup, and Harlequins’ first Premiership title in 2012. Care then led from the front in Quins’ unbelievable 40-38 comeback win over Exeter Chiefs, in the 2021 Premiership Final. Care has also achieved 87 caps for England, and plenty of gas left in the tank to extend his Harlequins record, in a decorated playing career.
Leicester Tigers – David Matthews (502)
David Matthews achieved his remarkable record for Leicester Tigers, from 1955 to 1974. A bruising flanker who impressed from an early age, Matthews made his full Tigers debut at 18-years-old, against Bedford Blues at Welford Road. Matthews was an ever-reliable player, making a staggering 109 consecutive Leicester Tigers matches. The flanker knew where the try line was as well, scoring 119 times for the club. This was a try-scoring record for Leicester forwards, until Neil Back broke the record in 2005.
London Irish – Topsy Ojo (301)
Holding the appearance record and the try-scoring record with London Irish, Topsy Ojo is a certified Exiles legend. With 73 tries in three centuries of matches for London Irish, Ojo was an instant fan favourite. Shining on the wing or fullback during his entire career at the club, Ojo graduated Irish’s youth team and progressed into a mainstay in the 1st XV. Ojo was a pivotal player in Irish’s RFU Championship winning season in 2016/17, quickly returning them to the top flight.
Newcastle Falcons – Tom May (257)
A versatile utility back, Tom May was comfortably suited to playing fly half, centre or even on the wing. This impressive adaptability led May to becoming Newcastle Falcons all time appearance holder, after a decade at the club. Making his debut against Northampton Saints, whom May would eventually sign for, he progressed fast into the first XV. May won the 2004 Anglo-Welsh Cup with Falcons, and was also selected for England’s 2002 Summer Tour to Argentina, winning a cap against Argentina ‘A’.
Northampton Saints – Ron Jacobs (470)
Another record-holding prop, Ron Jacobs was an ever-present front rower for Northampton Saints. His playing days for Saints were from 1949 to 1966. Jacobs made 29 appearances for England, and was even awarded the captaincy for his country, for final two matches. Following his retirement, Jacobs became President of the RFU in 1983, and was the tour manager for the 1984 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.
Sale Sharks – Mark Cueto (304)
Leading Sale’s appearance and try-scoring record tables, Mark Cueto is the personification of ‘one club legend’. Cueto holds boundless records for the Sharks, as he became the first Sale player to make 300 caps for the club, and is also the first ever player to score 90 tries in the Premiership. A decade and a half with Sale, and a decorated career on the international stage, Cueto made over 50 caps for England, and also represented the England 7s side in 2001. A 2005 British and Irish Lion, Cueto was selected for the tour to New Zealand.
Saracens – Alex Goode (350+)
Only the fourth player to make over 300 appearances for Saracens, and the first to achieve 350, Alex Goode is far from finished for the London club. Still a regular at the Stone X Stadium, capable of taking the reigns at centre of fullback, Goode is on his way to set a Saracens cap record to stand for decades to come. A season’s sabbatical loan to Japan halted Goode’s tally, as he played for NEC Green Rockets, whilst the Saracens dominated the 2020/21 RFU Championship season. Goode made his milestone 350th cap for the London club in last weekend’s defeat against Leicester Tigers.