Tom French

Academy player French was thrust into the limelight when he was the surprise selection in Wasps' starting line up for the Heineken Cup final last May, making only his second appearance for the 1XV for 2006/07.

His impressive performance on that day crowned a season when he played in all but one Wasps' A team games, helping them clinch the A League title at the end of the season.

His efforts last season have not gone unnoticed and Frenchy starts the 2007/08 season as a member of the 1XV squad. As well as his domestic achievements French can also list honours with the now-famous England U21 squad that won the Grand Slam in 2004 as well as at U18s level.

He made his 1st team debut for Wasps against Stade Francais in the Zurich Challenge Cup in 2003 and after injury disrupted his season in 2004-5, Tom had a change of scene as, in order to get some rugby under his belt, he traveled to New Zealand where he played several games for Craig Dowd's old club, Suburbs.

Tom grew up in Pinner and came straight to Wasps from Harrow school with influence from former coach and mentor Roger Uttley, a man he credits to be his rugby hero alongside Northampton's prop Tom Smith.

Away from rugby Tom enjoys golf and squash and is also skilled in the art of Judo having picked up the bronze medal in the Public School's Judo competition in both 1999 and 2000. In his spare time, Tom enjoys painting, drawing and is a self confessed car enthusiast - the driver of a Gilbern GT.

If he were not playing rugby, he thinks he would probably be attending university full time studying architecture. However he would like to explore the possibility of a career in the sports agent field post rugby.

Not surprisingly Tom lists the Heineken Cup final as his best rugby moment to date and will be looking to work towards a regular spot in the 1XV this season.