Simon Shaw

Infobox Rugby biography
name = Simon Shaw


fullname = Simon Dalton Shaw MBE
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1973|9|1
placeofbirth = Nairobi, Kenya
height = 6 ft 9 in (2.05 m)
weight = 19 st 10 lb (124 Kg)
nickname = Shawsy, Gentle Giant
school = Kings and Runnymede Colleges
Godalming Sixth Form College
university = University of the West of England
other = yes
ru_position = Lock
ru_amateuryears =
ru_youthclubs = Cranleigh
ru_clubyears = 1990-1997
1997 ‐

ru_proclubs = Bristol
London Wasps
Dunedin Pirates
ru_clubcaps =
200

ru_clubpoints =
(93)

ru_nationalyears = 1996 ‐
1997 ‐ 05

ru_nationalteam = England
British and Irish Lions
Barbarians
ru_nationalcaps = 48
ru_nationalpoints = (10)
pcupdate =
repupdate =

Simon Dalton Shaw (born 1 September 1973 in Nairobi, Kenya) is a rugby union player who plays at lock for Wasps and England.

Playing career

At 6' 9” (2.05 m), he is one of the tallest men to play for England. Shaw has represented England at various levels including students and Under 21s despite not fully taking up the game until he was 16, just after his family had moved to England from Kenya, and played for Bristol at 17. He won his first England cap against Italy in 1996. He joined Wasps in 1997 and was picked for the successful Lions tour to South Africa that year. A spate of injuries and Wasps' indifferent form in his first season cost him his England place and although he regained his place in the England squad for the following summer's tour, he was forced to withdraw with a long-standing back injury.

During the 2000 Six Nations, he had to step in for the injured Martin Johnson. He earned his 20th cap during the 2003 Six Nations and played in all three 2003 Rugby World Cup warm up matches. He was not named in the original 30 man squad but was flown out to Australia due to an injury to Danny Grewcock.Shaw was called up to the squad for the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand after Irish lock Malcolm O'Kelly aggravated a groin injury in training.

Many rugby pundits, most notably former England centre, Jeremy Guscott, believe Shaw to be among the finest locks currently playing.

Shaw played in the Rugby World Cup 2007 for England, and impressed many. Jonny Wilkinson and Andy Gomarsall both described him as "World Class" after England's quarter final win over Australia.

=Wasps [cite web|url=http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/254_23921.php|title=Simon Shaw set to become record breaker at Leeds|publisher=Premier Rugby|date=2008-05-09|accessdate=2008-05-10] =

Playing against Bath in August 2000, Shaw became (and remains) the only lock in the history of the Premiership to score a drop goal.

In May 2008, playing against Leeds Carnegie in the last match of the regular season, Shaw became the first player ever to play in 200 Premiership matches.

Shaw has played in every tournament final contested by Wasps since he joined the club. He has collected three Premiership and one Powergen Cup winners medals, the Heineken Cup twice, the Tetley Bitter Cup twice, and the Parker Pen European Shield.

External links

* [http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.News_Detail&storyid=5404 England Rugby profile]
* [http://www.wasps.co.uk/playerdisplaySS.ink?skip=23&season=07/08&seasonl=2007/2008&playertype=P Wasps Profile]
* [http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/112_146.php?player=3690&includeref=dynamic Guinness Premiership profile]
* [http://statistics.scrum.com/rugby_stats_05.asp?ID=ESH12 scrum.com statistics]
* [http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_611.html Profile and Statistcs (itsrugby.co.uk)]
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=657 Simon Shaw photo by sportingheroes.net]

References