Which rugby players were top-class talents in their youth but spent their twilight years struggling to maintain their legacy?
1. Matthew Tait
Despite becoming an England international aged 19 and being a World Cup finalist in 2007, Tait’s test career came to a conclusion in 2010 after 34 caps. Still only 24 at the time, another injury ruled him out of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He has since become a mainstay of the Leicester Tigers backline but has never really come close to earning an England recall.
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2. Gavin Henson
The man who tackled Tait. Despite two Six Nations winner’s medals, Henson falls firmly into the category of those that failed to
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3. Andy Long
Sir Clive Woodward was appointed England coach in 1997 and picked the 20-year-old prop on potential for his first match in charge against Australia. However, Long played poorly and only won one further cap for his country.