The RWC winners a year on

What happened to the 22 winners?

November 22 marks exactly a year since England's Rugby World Cup triumph and what a 12 months it has been for the side and their fans since then. No World Champion side saw their form fall away as dramatically as England and perhaps none has ever recovered it so quickly. We look back at what has happened to the match-day 22 that represented England that famous day in November in Sydney.

Phil Vickery
Sidelined by a chronic back injury from April 2004 onwards, the England tighthead has just be ruled out until January having only just battling his way back to full fitness with Gloucester. Will be targeting an England return for the 2005 Six Nations, and possibly another Lions tour, but spells on the sidelines are becoming increasingly common for the Raging Bull.
 
Steve Thompson 
Was first choice No.2 for the Six Nations as well as going into the June tour but was dropped for the final two Tests of that tour in favour of Mark Regan. Part of the wobbly line-out disease which afflicted England on and off in 2004, Thompson did little to convince most observers of a return to form for the start of the 2004/5 Premiership season. However, displaced Mark Regan as first choice for the November series much to the obvious annoyance of the Leeds' man who promptly quit Test rugby. Had a solid game at the weekend.

Trevor Woodman
Virtually an ever-present for England for the remainder of the 2003/4 season, only injury ruled him out of the Test against Australia in June. Made a move from Glocuester to Sale in the close season but his appearances for Sale have been limited by injury so far and he was ruled out of the November Test series thanks to a back injury.

Ben Kay
One of the players perceived to have been most affected by a post-RWC slump. Was unconvincing in the Six Nations when the line-out stuttered, most notably against Ireland, and sat out the June tour. No longer first choice lock for England, he is nevertheless in the England set-up and has been on the replacements bench recently.

Martin Johnson (c)
His legendary status remains undiminished. Announced his retirement from Test rugby before the Six Nations, Johnson has remained a first choice for Leicester since then. Despite calls for a place on the 2005 Lions tour, Johnson has ruled that out and would seem to be playing out his last season for Leicester.

Neil Back
Unceremoniously dropped by Clive Woodward going into the 2004 Six Nations, Back unsurprisingly, and reluctantly, announced his retirement from Test rugby. His departure was not one of the best decisions by Clive Woodward at a time when England could have done with some continuity and stablility. Helped Leicester rally their domestic form to secure a Heineken Cup spot for 2004/5 and Back has played a key part in Leicester's good start to this season both on the field and off it as a coach.

Richard Hill
Almost beyond reproach for England in the year since the RWC, the Saracens stalwart always gave his all despite the tide being against England. An ever-present for England in the Six Nations and the June tour, Hill was in line for the England captaincy for the November Tests. However, much to the dismay of England fans, Hill, the last remaining member of the 'Holy Trinity' England back-row, suffered a serious knee injury for Saracens in October ruling him out until after the 2005 Six Nations and possibly the Lions tour.

Lawrence Dallaglio
Re-appointed England captain after the retirement of Johnson, Dallaglio captained a tired side valiantly for the remainder of the 2003/4 season. Shocked the rugby world by announcing his retirement from international rugby in September, an announcement somewhat over-shadowed by the departure of Clive Woodward two days later. Been focussing on his performances for London Wasps, may still be hoping for a final Test flourish with a spot on the Lions tour.

Matt Dawson
Another RWC winner to sit out the 2004 tour to Australia and New Zealand having been an ever-present in the Six Nations, Dawson's move to Wasps was widely viewed as a success with the former Saint in good form. However, England coach Andy Robinson was forced to axe him from the England set-up after television commitments required him to miss out on a training session. Despite calls for his recall on account of his club form, Robinson may now be looking to the future of the No.9 jersey although a 2005 return should not be ruled out. 

Jonny Wilkinson
From the most talked about boot to the most talked about neck/shoulder. The game's new superstar played very little rugby in 2004 thanks to a nasty nerve injury that required surgery, missing the first nine months of 2004. Made playing return with Newcastle in September and was then named captain of England but promptly sidelined for another two months on account of an apparently unrelated upper arm injury. Some critics remain unconvinced of his long-term fitness and with his under-study Charlie Hodgson sparkling at present, it may be a hard road back.

Jason Robinson
One of the very few England players whose form was widely percived to have been unaffected by the post-RWC fervour. Had spells at fullback, wing and centre this year, Robinson was rested for the 2004 tour to Australia and New Zealand. Captained Sale Sharks for the 2004/5 season and promptly helped guide his side to the top of the Premiership standings. Chosen by new coach Andy Robinson to captain England in the absence of Jonny Wilkinson.

Will Greenwood
Ever-present in the 2004 Six Nations, Greenwood sat out the tour Down Under in the close season. Had a tough start to the 2004/5 season, his form and fitness suffering as NEC Harlequins had a dredful start to the English season. Managed to secure a place on the bench for the previous two England Tests.

Mike Tindall 
Out injured for three of England's Six Nations games, returned to play in the remaining England campaign. Struggled as England struggled Down Under. The Bath power-house was previously vice-captain for England, was overlooked for the captaincy when Jonny Wilkinson was ruled out through injury largely due to uncertainty of his Test form. Doubts remain over his long-term selection for England but was his powerful best against the Boks.

Ben Cohen 
One of England's main strike weapons last year, had a limited effect in the RWC. Scored four tries in England's disappointing Six Nations campaign, was ineffective, like so many England backs, in the three southern hemisphere Tests. Left out of the first four games of the Saints' Premiership campaign and now a bench option for England.

Josh Lewsey 
Has remained a first choice for England in the back three formation for the past year, but seemed to struggle for form. Helped Wasps to the English and European double in 2004, has shifted back to the wing under new coach Andy Robinson in the November Tests.

Reserves  

Mike Catt (78th minute for Tindall)
The man who had the last touch of the ball in the RWC Final, booting it into the stands to herald the final whistle. Made a crucial contribution to England's RWC campaign and was a bit part player in 2004 but the RWC looks increasingly like a final major Test hurrah. Out of favour with both Bath and now England, Catt is currently plying his trade with London Irish in the Premiership.

Jason Leonard (80th minute for Vickery)
The veteran warhorse made it into the first match-day 22 for the Six Nations game against Italy but was overlooked for the remaining games prompting his retirement from the international scene. Playing out the remainder of the 2003/4 season with Quins, he then retired from rugby altogether.

Iain Balshaw (85th minute for Lewsey)
Started the first three games of the 2004 Six Nations, Balshaw remains on the England scene to the amazement of many England fans for whom 2001 seems a long distant past. Sidelined for the opening part of the new 2004/5 Premiership season, he made a return in late October and managed to be named in initial England squad for the November series.

Lewis Moody (93rd minute for Hill)
Sat out most of 2004 with a foot injury suffered early on in the RWC. Made a playing comeback in October and made return for England in the November Test series. Would seem to be a regular starter for England in the coming year, as well as Lions' selection, injury permitting.

Kyran Bracken 
Bracken did not hang around, bring down the curtain ten-year Test career in early 2004. Still playing for Saracens with an autobiography hoping for a spot in the Christmas Best Sellers lists.

Martin Corry
Bit part player at the RWC, only played 45 minutes against Uruguay and never got on in the Final. The 2001 Lion has been looking to firm up an England spot in the November Tests after being recalled to the starting XV after the injury to Richard Hill.

Dorian West 
Another bit part player at the RWC, West called time on his England career immediately after the RWC and like Leaonrd bowed out of all rugby at the end of 2003/4 season.