Not every England player can have their ‘Jonny Wilkinson moment’ at the Rugby World Cup. England have participated in all nine Rugby World Cups since the inaugural competition in 1987, which means that some appearances are bound to fly under the radar.
Despite reaching the final on three occasions, there has only been one ‘Golden Generation’ for England so far. So, as the immortals of ’03 are fondly remembered by fans, there are a handful of England players who’s Rugby World Cup appearances have fallen to the wayside.
Sometimes the highlight of an England player’s Rugby World Cup journey is stepping foot out on the pitch and making that appearance. Here are five England players you didn’t know played at the Rugby World Cup
1. Dan Hipkiss – 2007 Rugby World Cup
Breaking into the England squad right on cue for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Leicester Tigers centre Dan Hipkiss had a fleeting appearance at the competition. The tournament in ’07 marked his one and only Rugby World Cup campaign, despite being a Premiership carer-man and eligible to represent England until his retirement in 2013.
After four arduous seasons, Hipkiss broke into the Leicester Tigers first team and became a mainstay in the squad during the 2005/06 season. Hipkiss caught the attention of former Leicester lock and England Head Coach Martin Johnson, as Hipkiss showcased his talents under the bright lights of Twickenham for the 2006 Premiership Final.
Hipkiss made his England debut in a 2007 Rugby World Cup warm-up match against Wales, and was selected in the refined squad of 30 men. After missing the opening two pool stages matches against the USA and South Africa, Hipkiss came off the bench for cameo appearances against two Pacific Island sides. The centre played seven minutes against Samoa, and eleven minutes against Tonga, as England eased through to the knock-out stages.
Hipkiss was an unused replacement for the quarter-final victory against Australia, yet played all of the second half in the semi-final triumph over France. Hipkiss presented his versatility, as he replaced the match’s sole try-scorer Josh Lewsey on the left wing, after an untimely injury. Hipkiss followed this up with an off-the-bench appearance in the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final defeat to the Springboks. He replaced Jason Robinson seven minutes into the second half.
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