5 Surprising England One-Cap Wonders You Completely Forgot About

These five players were all only given one opportunity for a full international test match for England.

A recognisable name to the fans of Premiership rugby, it is surprising to here that former Wasps winger Christian Wade has only ever received one England cap during his career. A breakout star of the Wasps academy, Wade's electric pace and match-made stamina took him to the England 7s set-up, where he scored 22 tries in the 2009/10 World Sevens Series.

Wade soon became involved in the England U20s, making his debut in the 2010 IRB Junior World Championships, and achieved a professional contract with Wasps soon after. A certain fan favourite during the 'London Wasps' era, Wade entertained the crowd with his performances at Adams Park. He tied the record for most tries in a Premiership rugby game, when he scored six against Worcester Warriors, in a 54-35 thriller at the appropriately named Sixways Stadium.

Fan anticipation grew for Wade to get his England call-up, and his full test debut came to fruition on the 2013 summer tour of Argentina. Wade played the full 80 minutes on the right wing, and scored in the 3 - 32 away win in Salta. Wade was called up for the 2013 British Lions tour, yet was uncapped for the test matches and untimely, injuries halted his international momentum. In 2018, took him to make the decision to move across the pond, and pursue a career in the NFL.

Wade was signed as a running back by the Buffalo Bills, yet did not have a prominent impact. He made just one appearance in a pre-season match against the Indianapolis Colts, yet marked the occasion with a touchdown. After three seasons in the Bills' practice squad, Wade made the jump back to rugby. In September 2022, he signed for Parisian giants Racing 92.

Retiring from professional rugby just last month, former Wasps and Sale scrum half Joe Simpson, can claim an international appearance for England. Coming off the bench to replace Ben Youngs, Simpson made his full test debut at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, in a pool stage match against Georgia.

Simpson earned his spot in the 2011 squad for New Zealand, after working tirelessly to establish a name for himself in the Premiership. Considered a club legend at Wasps, Simpson made his club debut in the 2008/09 season, and has since made over 250 appearances in black and gold.

Whilst at Wasps, Simpson took time away to pursue the Olympic dream, joining Team GB for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Unfortunatly, a dislocated elbow in training cut the journey short. Simpson's Premiership CV also includes a move to Gloucester in 2019, and two loan spells away to Saracens and Bath.

With nearing on 350 caps in the Premiership, Simpson could have accrued more in an English jersey, yet was not a frequent feature in the plans of Stuart Lancaster or Eddie Jones. Now at 34-years-old, Simpson decided to finish his career off at Sale Sharks, and hang up the boots on a globetrotting journey.

A one cap wonder for now, but never a name to write off for a future call up. Sale's Tommy Taylor is still a contender for anther England cap, but as the 31-year-old looks towards the twilight of his career, he may in fact settle for one and done.

The long-haired hooker made over a century of appearances at the AJ Bell, before his 2016 transfer to Wasps. Playing alongside Christian Wade and Joe Simpson, Taylor enjoyed just shy of 100 caps, running out 96 times for Wasps. It was whilst he was under contract at Wasps, when Taylor got his long awaited England call-up.

Coming into the squad as injury cover for Jamie George, Taylor came off the bench against Wales in a summer tour warm-up match, replacing Dylan Hartley. Luke Cowan-Dickie was selected ahead of Taylor for the following Summer tour, and along with the returning Jamie George, Taylor was bumped out of the squad. Now in his second stint back at Sale since 2021, Tommy Taylor does excellent charity work as a Youth Ambassador for Action for Sick Children.

Jason Hobson made his sole England cap against the All Blacks, on England's 2008 Summer Tour of New Zealand. Playing the majority of his career in the West Country, Hobson began his career at Exeter Rugby, and in the turn of the millennium, saw the transition into the 'Chiefs' era.

The prop made 33 appearances for the Devonshire club until his departure in 2003, where he joined local rivals Bristol. Over a decade shy of their rebranding into the 'Bears', Hobson bulk of his career was spent in the historic county of Avon. A classic 'no nonsense', 'old-school' scrummager, Hobson was a revered opponent across the noughties Championship.

Hobson would play alongside the aforementioned London Wasps contingent, when he also enjoyed a spell at Adam's Park. This two year absence from the South West was more than enough for Hobson, who returned to Bristol in 2011, to see out his playing days until 2014. His cameo appearance for England against the mighty All Blacks being his one and only international cap.

A Harlequins centurion, with 179 first team caps, it is bizarre to learn that Joe Gray only managed one appearance for his country. Two spells at the Stoop across 10 seasons, Gray was always in contention for the England call-up, but Lancaster or Jones continued to look at other players.

Similarly to Hobson, Gray's solo appearance whilst wearing the red rose, was against the All Blacks. This came on the 2014 summer tour to New Zealand, with Gray being flown out as a reserve player, ahead of the Barbarians war-up fixtures. Joe Gray's off-the-bench cap saw him take over for hooker Rob Webber, in England's 20-15 away defeat.

Gray began his career at Northampton Saints for three seasons, before making the move to become a dedicated citizen of London. A two year spell at Saracens, in-between his decade at Harlequins established his presence in the capitol. A decorated player, Gray's last piece of silverware was the 2021 Gallagher Premiership title. Following his retirement, Joe Gray has quickly moved to coaching, securing the Head Coach position at Quins partnership club London Scottish, in the RFU Championship for the 2022/23 season.