THE VICTORIOUS TEAM

15 Ben Hinshelwood (Bedford): Rangy utility back with plenty of gas. Ben is the Australian-born son of former Scotland and Lions wing Sandy Hinshelwood. Had joined Bedford from the University of Sydney rugby team at the time of the game and then moved to Worcester for a five-year spell, during which time he won 19 Scotland caps and was a regular starter for the Scots at RWC2003. Retired prematurely with a back injury. Now a director of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in London.

14 Dan Scarborough (Wakefield): Powerful Yorkshire wing whose career was blighted by injury but can look back on two England caps, a try against South Africa in Pretoria, a Hong Kong Sevens title with England in 2004 and solid shifts with Saracens and Racing Metro. Narrowly missed out on selection for Clive Woodward’s World Cup squad in 2003. Now head of rugby at Bradford GS.

13 Duncan Roke (Henley Hawks): Versatile back who packed a punch virtually anywhere behind the scrum. Learnt his rugby at Leicester Tigers before joining Henley Hawks where he was a key figure in the journey to the Championship where he was their top try scorer. Later joined Worcester helping them to promotion and later still played for Cornish Pirates. Last heard of coaching with Bromsgrove.

12 Steve Ravenscroft (London Welsh): Solid clever midfielder who had played most of his rugby – as a semi-professional – with Saracens culminating with that Tetley’s Cup win over Wasps in 1998. Capped twice on the tour from hell in 1998. Ravenscroft, a high flying lawyer and now a partner with White and Case, then joined London Welsh and enjoyed a five-season spell with them, again as a semi-professional, as he concentrated on his career. 

11 Spencer Bromley (Worcester): Huge if occasional mercurial talent on the wing where his powerful athletic stride could cause carnage on his day. Had been earmarked as a future England star from early on but it never quite happened although he won England A caps. At club level shone for Harlequins, Ulster and towards the end of career with Worcester.

  10 Richard Le Bas (Leeds Tykes): Talented big-kicking Kiwi who made quite an impression during his time with Leeds. Was a former New Zealand Colts (Under 21) representative who played for Northland and North Harbour before packing his boots and travelling to England to chance his arm. 

9 Scott Benton (Leeds Tykes): Another player whose career might have taken a different trajectory. Lean, fast, spikey, Benton could have enjoyed a decent England career, even at a time of plenty at scrum-half, but was irrevocably scarred by his debut against Australia the tour from hell in 1998.

Performed very well for Gloucester and Leeds and enjoyed a short spell at Sale.

1 Mike Shelley, right (Leeds Tykes): Legendary figure at Leeds Tykes where he made 244 League appearances after showcasing his talent during a formative three-year spell with West Hartlepool. An England A and Churchill Cup regular, Shelley looked Test class throughout his long career but alas in a position where England were well stocked. During this 2000-2001 season skippered Leeds to the title and promotion and later still captained them to Powergen Cup title over Bath at Twickenham. Emigrated to Canada. 

2 Andrew Lamerton (Worcester): Another whose career might have taken a different path had the stars aligned. Brilliant age group international with Wales, Lamerton won five senior caps in 1993 but his career was stalled firstly by a serious kidney illness and then a car accident which left him in a coma for two weeks. Eventually resumed his career with Pontypridd and towards the end with ambitious Worcester.

3 Chris Budgen (Birmingham and Solihull): The third ripe old character in the Divisions XV, the New Zealand-reared Budgen played senior rugby until his 40s and enjoyed a considerable club career with Bedwas, Bridgend, Northampton and Exeter Chiefs as well as being a fixture in the Army and Combined Services teams for ever and a day. Served in Afghanistan during his time in the Army. Not a prop to mess with.

4 Juilen Hyde (Birmingham & Solihull). A much-respected lock and stalwart of the Championship for many years, first with Coventry and then towards the end of his career with Birmingham and Solihull. Made 213 appearances for Cov and skippered the side in 1991-92 and then on moving to Brum was influential in getting them promoted to the Championship or National 1 as it was called. Retired in 2002.

5 Tom Palmer, right (Leeds Tykes): Probably the biggest name in the team. A very considerable lineout operator who went toe to toe with Matfield. Palmer was an excellent Test lock who put in big and effective shifts with Leeds Tykes, Wasps (twice), Stade Francais, Gloucester, Treviso and Bordeaux Begles during a marathon career that spanned 19 years of senior rugby. Won Heineken Cup and Premiership honours with Wasps, narrowly missed out on England World Cup selection in both 2003 and 2007. Class act.

6 Steve Barnes (Henley Hawks); Stalwart and talented flanker at Henley Hawks and an important figure in that club’s rise up through the League to Championship level. Took the big step up in his stride. Later served as the club’s First XV coach and still involved helping out with the club’s second XV, the Bulls. 

7 Cammie Mather (Worcester): One of the ‘Kilted Kiwis’ who qualified for Scotland via his Scottish grandfather and war hero George Urquhart. Born and bred in Christchurch, Mather moved to Scotland in 1996 to play for Edinburgh, featured in the Scotland sevens side for a while and then made his full debut at RWC1999 against Romania. Proved a great signing for Leeds and although quickly dropping out of favour with Scotland he was recalled for RWC2003 where he stood out in a misfiring team. 

8 Ian Patten (Moseley): Typical of the kind of rugged, combative forward that the Championship bred and still breeds by the score, Patten had been hugely effective with Coventry before joining Mosley and late in his career made a big impact at a resurgent Bristol. Was playing with Moseley when he locked horns with the South Africans and looked to the manor born.

REPLACEMENTS Ben Whetstone (Bedford): Bedford stalwart who spent 14 years playing for the Blues save for a season at London Irish. Like many Bedford backs of recent decades a fluent passer of the ball with an all court game. 

Ben Harvey (Bedford): Cornish-man who arrived at Bedford via spells with Bristol and Richmond. Started as a scrum-half moved to fly-half but could play anywhere. Very talented coach who laid the early foundations at Jersey before Harvey Biljon took up the reins.

  Matt Holt (Waterloo): Talented Aussie who spent four years with Waterloo before moving onto Leeds. Gave great service to Caldy as coach for many years before moving back to Australia but stays in close contract with friends in the North West.

Stephen Pope (London Welsh): Versatile and experienced Exiles front man who could cover both prop and hooker. Also played with Blackheath, Wasps and Swansea.

Liam Mooney (Exeter): Age group star who helped London Irish to promotion before joining Exter Chiefs in the early days of their rise. Now a successful businessman in the Channel Islands.