We take a look at several players who never actually played a game in the shirts they posed in for the cameras.
1. Dylan Hartley (British & Irish Lions)
In May 2013 Hartley was sent off in the
Aviva Premiership final against Leicester and banned for 11 weeks after being found guilty of verbally abusing a match official. Despite already being photographed in full kit, this act cost Hartley his place in the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia. He would never go on a Lions tour before retiring.
2. Gary Graham (England)
Initially overlooked by the senior Scotland side, Graham received an England call up in December 2017, for the 34 man Six Nations training squad, but he'd never make an appearance. The powerhouse number 8 then had a change of heart in November 2018 and was called up to the Scotland squad, and has since won two caps.
3. Ben Te'o (Ireland)
Te’o’s first union club was Leinster, and Ireland were hoping to eventually secure his services on residency grounds before Eddie Jones persuaded him to opt for England, an act made possible through his mother’s heritage. He even represented Ireland as a fan during the 2015 World Cup.
4. Andy Goode (London Irish)
On 16 February 2015, it was announced Goode would join London Irish at the end of the season. However, on 8 September 2015,
it was announced the fly-half would retire due to injury problems without playing a single game for London Irish and was therefore released from his contract.
However, he'd then join Newcastle Falcons in December 2015, helping Dean Richards side avoid the drop with the Exiles going down bottom of the pile .
5. Niko Matawalu
The Fijian magician came down to Devon from Glasgow with high expectations. However, off-the-field problems meant the scrum-half/wing only ever played for Exeter Braves, once in December 2016, without graduating to the first team.
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