LIST | Five great players who never won in an England shirt

He earned his first England cap against his home country in June 2007. He was capped again against France in August 2007, but narrowly missed out on a place in England's 30-man World Cup squad that autumn. Following years of being ignored by International selectors, he made the move to Clermont in 2014 after a highly successful career at Bath which saw him earn 207 caps for the English side, during an eight-year spell. And after a string of impressive performances for Clermont in the 2014/2015 Champions Cup, Abendanon was awarded 2015 European player of the year.

Former Gloucester skipper Sims eventually made his long overdue debut for the senior England team on the 1998 tour of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, under Clive Woodward. The lock didn't have a great experience though, suffering 64-22 and 44-10 defeats to the All Blacks before losing 18-0 to South Africa in Cape Town. He'd never play for England again.

Brown was expected to make his international debut against Australia in November, but he suffered a neck injury and was ruled out of the entire Autumn programme. He made his senior international debut for England during their 2006 summer tour, in a defeat to Australia. The lock then played in both tests on the 2007 summer tour, England losing both games to South Africa. Brown was eventually forced to announce his retirement on 20 December 2012 due to a shoulder injury.

Two caps, two tries, but two defeats. He made his full international debut on England's 2008 summer tour to New Zealand, scoring two tries on his debut in the first Test. He retained his starting berth in the second Test match, although he was powerless to prevent England going down to the home side in both games of the two-Test series.

Hanley was one of two Sale players to make their international debut in England’s final match of their 1999 Five Nations campaign along with Barrie-Jon Mather. Although Hanley scored a try, he also was handed-off by Craig Quinnell and suffered a broken arm as Wales won 32–31. Reflecting in 2005 on why he was unable to break into the England team after 1999, Hanley said “They had a settled side under Clive [Woodward] and once you were in, it was hard to get out as the team was winning all the time”.