Simon Shaw

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

Simon made his test debut against Italy in November 1996, after having been selected for the 1995 World Cup squad - still only 22 - but missing the tournament after rupturing his knee ligaments just two weeks before preparations for the tournament commenced.

Since then, he has represented England at every level and played in two Lions tours. However, his habit of appallingly timed injuries, combined with some inexplicable indifference to his talents at international level, left him with just 34 caps for his country, where many feel he is deserved of many, many more.

In 2000 Simon became the only lock in history to have scored a drop goal in the history of the Premiership, claiming his three points against Bath at Loftus Road, and in June of 2001 he celebrated scoring his first international test try by scoring another one in the same game, against Canada in Vancouver.

Surprisingly, Simon was initially left out of the 2003 World Cup Squad, but injuries within the England camp saw him called out to Australia and he returned with a winners medal despite having never played a game. He also became a proud father in 2003 with the birth of his first daughter, the second following in 2005 and a son in the summer of 2006.

Simon was voted London Wasps Players' Player of the Season in 2003, and in 2004 won the Zurich Premiership Player of the Season Award.

He was called out to New Zealand in 2005 for his second Lions tour, and justified his selection with some characteristically barnstorming performances for the unbeaten midweek squad under Ian McGeechan that ensured his place in the Elite Player Squad for 2005/06.

In 2006/07 Simon celebrates his tenth season at Wasps with a Benefit Year, raising funds for charities SPARKS and the NSPCC via a series of events throughout the year. He matched his good work off pitch with displays on the field, making 27 appearances with the Heineken Cup winning side. His achievements on the domestic stage were echoed by a well deserved recall to the England side who travelled to France for the World Cup, playing in every single game and securing their path to the final. A call up to the 2008 Six Nations squad followed this season after yet another strong run of form for Wasps post World Cup.