There are several contenders for the unluckiest England rugby player of all time. In these days of multiple caps and “finishers”, though, it is hard to look past the former Sale hooker Andy Simpson and the former England scrum coach Phil Keith-Roach. Simpson sat on England’s bench 18 times between 1981 and 1986 without being officially capped, while Keith-Roach was “carded” 25 times as a travelling or non-travelling reserve without making it on to the field either.
When we discuss the tough luck being endured by certain modern players, therefore, it is all strictly relative. Has there ever been an era, even so, in which so many young English hopes have been joyfully raised only to be summarily dashed. During Eddie Jones’s tenure as England coach, around 200 players received at least one training call-up, with 112 securing at least one precious cap.
