3. Stuart Abbott – 2003 Rugby World Cup
One of the lesser-known members of the 2003 immortals, centre Stuart Abbott was amongst the squad that won England’s one and only Rugby World Cup to date. The former Wasps centurion made three appearances at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, as he started in two pool stage matches and made an off-the-bench appearance on the way through to glory.
Born and raised in Cape Town, Abbot turned down the opportunity to play for the Springboks at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, after he was approached coach Rudolf Straeuli. Abbot opted to play for England as he qualified through his English mother, and marked his debut with a try against Wales in a Rugby World Cup warm-up fixture. After a rollercoaster two weeks, Abbot was then selected in the squad which would go on to make history.
Abbott travelled to Australia, yet was left out of England’s opening Rugby World Cup match against Georgia. The London Wasps man had to watch on from the side-lines, as his side dispatched the Eastern Europeans 84-6. Abbott had to continue to wait for his World Cup debut, as he was left out on the squad for the triumphant clash against his homeland of South Africa. It’s interesting to consider whether Abbott would have contested in this match, had he decided to take up the offer from the ‘Boks.
Yet Abbott was low in the midfield pecking order, which included England legends Will Greenwood, Mike Catt and Mike Tindall. Abbott’s opportunity arose in the third and fourth pool stage matches, with knock-out stage qualification all but secured for England. Abbott started in the centre for England’s wins over Samoa and Uruguay, with the midfielder getting on the scoresheet in the 111-13 decimation of the South Americans.
Abbott’s final action of the 2003 Rugby World Cup came in the quarter-finals, as he made an substitute appearance against Wales. He was unable to build upon his pool stage try, but had a decent performance in match’s closing stages. Abbott was dropped by Brian Ashton for the semi-final and historic final, yet was bestowed an MBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, when England returned home with the Web Ellis Trophy.