Dream Team: James Hudson – Newcastle and former Bath, London Irish and England Saxons lock

1. Jonny Golding – The first of a pair of surfing props. Jonny is a great aggressive scrummager for us at Newcastle with a phenomenal engine on him.
2. Lee Mears – The little pig can carry a ball with three men on his back but to top it off I think he could still throw the ball perfectly wearing a blindfold. Lee is a great guy, but watch out because he will often try to sell you something.
3. Carl Hayman – Carl is such an unbelievable athlete for a big man and is the only player I have seen hold a conversation while dominating a scrum. He was at Newcastle when I joined. He is also a magician when a four-pint jug is put in front of him.
4. Danny Grewcock – The complete lock – he is strong, aggressive and also very athletic. Plus he was hugely helpful and encouraging while I grew up at Bath, and he set me a great example.
5. Patricio Albacete – I could have picked one of a bunch of top locks that I’ve played with but the experience of playing against this guy in Toulouse will always stay with me. He can run the lineout and does so much work around the park.
6. Declan Danaher – A great player who rarely gets the plaudits that he deserves. He possesses a tireless work ethic and leads with passion for Irish.
7. James Scaysbrook – Great handling skills and lineout ability on top of everything you want from an openside. He was fantastic when we played at Bath and he is one of the reasons Exeter‘s rise has been so rapid.
8. Allister Hogg – A natural talent with an uncanny knack of being in the right place at the right time. Also he would never let me hear the end of it if I didn’t include him!
9. Paul Hodgson – A class act who is able to cover every blade of grass on the field while talking you through the game at the same time.
10. Jimmy Gopperth – It’s rare you see Jim without a smile on his face. He is a near faultless goal kicker with a pair of golden boots and an unparalleled enthusiasm for the game.
11. Sailosi Tagicakibau – Losi beats defenders for fun and is so strong on his feet. He was certainly a man to avoid in training unless you wanted to look daft.
12. Mike Catt – I thoroughly enjoyed playing alongside and being coached by him at Bath and London Irish. He was a fierce competitor with incredible distribution skills.
13. Seilala Mapusua – He’s a great character who knows how to enjoy life off the field but also how to make something happen on it. A sublime offloader who had a huge impact on the Premiership.
14. Joe Maddock – If there is ever a glimmer of a chance, Joe finishes it off. He is an elusive, balanced runner, and was great at Bath.
15. Nick Abendanon – Nick is a nightmare on kick and chase – his counter-attacking ability tears holes in defences. Not only that, he throws everything into the last line of defence.