Simon Shaw

Simon SHAW was only 17 when he played against Wasps for Bristol and was so clearly destined for the highest honours in the game. The 'Gentle Giant' has been one of the best locks in the Premiership for several seasons, joining us in London from the West Country in 1997.

Simon has represented England at every level and was a certain choice for the successful Lions tour to South Africa that same year. A spate of injuries and Wasps' indifferent form in his first season, cost the big man his England place and even though he fought back to make the England squad for the following summer's tour, bad luck struck again and he was forced to withdraw with a long standing back injury.

Now a regular in the Wasps line-up Shaw has toured with England in the last two summers and is sure to be challenging the regular pairing of Johnson and Grewcock again, for the Autumn tests and Six nations games this season.