Wasps: Steve Thompson
Despite being 33, there was excitement when the World Cup-winning hooker signed a three-year deal with Wasps in May 2011.
However, in December, after making just one appearance, Thompson announced his immediate retirement from the game, following a recurrence of a serious neck injury sustained in training in late-October. This required surgery to relieve symptoms of numbness and dizziness, but to carry on playing would carry serious risk to his health.
DID YOU KNOW? The England hooker was nominated for World Player of the Year in 2003, losing out to teammate Jonny Wilkinson
Worcester Warriors: Ben Te’o
Who Else? The centre will go down as the worst value for money transfer in rugby history we’d imagine.
Arriving in 2016, despite solid form for England during this stint, the Warriors fans barely saw him in his three years at Sixways, which is not what you want from your highest paid player.
Waste of money.
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- Three England players Sir Clive Woodward would drop this Autumn
- Johnny Sexton responds to ‘ridiculous’ Warren Gatland claim