3=. David Barnes (West Hartlepool, Newcastle, Harlequins, Bath) – 217
After starting his career with West Hartlepool he subsequently played for the Newcastle Falcons when they won the 1997–98 Premiership.
Barnes then joined Harlequin F.C, where he understudied Jason Leonard, before moving to Bath Rugby in 2000. Before retiring from the sport, due to injury, in 2011, he had played 266 first team games for Bath Rugby and a career total of over 200 Premiership games.
In 2006, Barnes featured in an England XV side against the Barbarians before he then captained England Saxons at the 2006 Churchill Cup. He was also called up to Martin Johnson’s squad for the 2009 Autumn Internationals but withdrew from the squad due to an injury inflicted upon him by teammate Duncan Bell.
DID YOU KNOW: He was appointed head of Discipline at the RFU in July 2017
3=. Chris Fortey (Gloucester, Worcester) – 217
The popular hooker kicked off his career with his boyhood club Gloucester, making over 100 appearances between 1997 and 2004.
He then moved to Worcester in 2005 where he’d scrum down with his identical twin Lee, who was a prop.
Fortey would be at the Warriors for seven years before a short stint at Hartpury, where he was named the captain, proved to be the end of his career.
3=. Kris Chesney (Saracens, Bristol) – 217
At Age 18, Chesney started playing rugby in Essex with local club Barking RFC before quickly moving onto Saracens where he made a record 300 appearances in all competition.
During his career, he made appearances for England at U21 and then captained the England 7’s team in 2004, this was the same year he won the Zurich Premiership Try of The Season Award. Before leaving Saracens, Chesney played for the invitational Barbarians side against England at Twickenham.
He finished his senior playing career with 3 years at Toulon, playing alongside teammates Johnny Wilkinson, Simon Shaw and Sonny Bill Williams.
2. Christian Day (Sale Sharks, Northampton Saints) – 220
The 34-year-old was at Franklin’s Gardens since 2008 and helped the Saints to two European Challenge Cups and two Premiership titles.
Day previously played all of his professional career at Sale except for a short term contract at French giants Stade Français.
Away from the pitch Day served as Chairman of the Rugby Players’ Association from 2014 to 2017, becoming Vice Chairman for the 2017/18 season, and took on a full-time position as Player Liaison Officer with the organisation in July 2018.
1. Stuart Hooper (Saracens, Leeds Carnegie, Bath) – 232
Previously a player for Saracens and Leeds Carnegie, Hooper joined Bath in the 2008/2009 season.
Captain of the team in his last five years at the Club, Hooper retired in April 2016 and took up the new role of Performance and Player Development Director – a role which includes supporting the coaching staff in developing player skills and running the Performance aspects of the Rugby department.
In June 2005 Hooper was called up for England Saxons against France and was part of their Churchill Cup success in Canada. Hooper also captained the 2009 Saxons side in the Churchill Cup, where England were beaten by Ireland in the final.