Iain Balshaw

Iain Balshaw
MBE

Balshaw (right) withMike Tindalland the Rugby World Cup trophy
Birth name	Iain Robert Balshaw
Date of birth	(1979-04-18)18 April 1979
Place of birth	Blackburn,England
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	14 st 11 lb (94 kg)
School	Stonyhurst College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback/Wing Youth career - Preston Grasshoppers Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1997–2004 2004–2006 2006–2009 2009–2014 Bath Leeds Gloucester Biarritz 127 26 39 69 (255) (25) (70) (50) Correct as of 30 June 2014 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2000–2008 2001 England British & Irish Lions 35 3 (65) (0) Correct as of 30 June 2014

Iain Robert Balshaw,MBE(born 18 April 1979) is an English formerrugby unionplayer who played on thewingor atfull backforBath,Leeds Carnegie,GloucesterandBiarritz Olympique.He won 35 international caps forEnglandbetween 2000 and 2008, and three for theBritish & Irish Lionsin 2001. He was a member of the England squad that won the2003 Rugby World Cup.

Early life

Born 18 April 1979 inBlackburn,England,Balshaw was educated at theJesuitStonyhurst Collegein Lancashire.

Club career

Bath

At junior level he played forPreston Grasshoppersand joinedBathas a teenager in 1997. He made his senior debut in 1998, scoring thirteentriesin his first season.

Leeds Carnegie

After Balshaw's move toLeedsin July 2004, his game at club level flourished. Balshaw was out of action for the beginning of the season with a groin injury, but after three months of work with the Leeds medical staff he was back to fitness. He made his debut off the bench in the Tykes first home win of the season againstWorcester Warriors.Balshaw's first start came away againstGrenoblein theEuropean Challenge Cupand he has featured in the starting line up for theTykessubsequent games. After a run of five impressive starts Balshaw was rewarded with the captaincy for thePowergen Cupsemi-final game againstLondon Irish,and this performance saw him gain a recall to theEngland squad.He started the final itself, but he limped off injured early on in the game as his teammates went on to win the trophy.

Gloucester Rugby

FollowingLeeds Carnegie's relegation from theGuinness Premiership,in April 2006 Balshaw joinedGloucester Rugby.He made his debut against his old clubBathafter making 106 Premiership appearances for Bath and Leeds scoring 38 tries.

Biarritz Olympique

Balshaw moved toBiarritz Olympiquein 2009, as part of a large exodus of English players to the FrenchTop 14.

On 11 July 2014, Balshaw announced his retirement from rugby with immediate effect after failing to recover from his knee injuries.

International career

Balshaw was picked on the replacements’ bench for every one of Englands internationals in 2000. He won his first cap forEnglandin 2000 at the inauguralSix Nations Championshipmatch againstIreland,coming on as a substitute. In November 2000, he came on late in the England-Australiaautumn International atTwickenhamto giveDan Lugera last minute winningtry.

In the following 2001Six Nationshe finally made the starting line-up for England atfull backand stunned theWelshin the opening game at theMillennium Stadium;England winning 44–15. Hetoured Australiawith theBritish & Irish Lionsin June 2001, winning three test caps as a replacement.

The 2002/2003 season saw him as a member of the England squad for the tour ofNew ZealandandAustralia,before joining the party forChurchill Cupmatches in North America. He scored two tries in a 'non-cap' international againstJapanin Tokyo in June 2002, having recovered from shoulder surgery that restricted him to nine games in the previous eleven months forBath.Problems with injury meant that his subsequent international appearances were few, despite criticismClive Woodwardretained faith in his ability and selected him in the2003 World Cupsquad.

Balshaw played in the warm-up match againstFranceinMarseilleand impressed in England'sWorld Cupgame againstSamoa,when he caught a diagonal kick fromJonny Wilkinsonto score a crucial try in the 70th minute. He was one of 19 England players who played during thefinalwin overAustraliain Sydney, coming on as a replacement in extra time.

In the2005 Lions tour of New Zealandhe was selected ahead ofKevin MorganandMark Cueto,but later ruled out with a torn thigh muscle. Balshaw was selected for England in both Tests in Australia in June 2006.

He was also chosen in the first two Autumn Internationals in 2006. He played againstNew Zealandand then againstArgentinawhere he scored an individual try.

He was England's first choiceFullbackduring the2008 Six Nations Championshipbut received a lot of criticism from rugby pundits includingGeorge Hook.WhenMartin Johnsonannounced his first England squads in July 2008 following his appointment as manager, Balshaw was omitted from both the Elite andSaxonselections.

Personal life

Balshaw is married to Kate and they have three children. Balshaw was involved with www.rugbypigs.com, a rugby fanzine website.

Honours

• Powergen Cup/Anglo-Welsh Cuptitles:1
  • 2005

Amlin Trophy Championship Winner 2012

• Rugby World CupWinner2003

External links

• ProfileGloucester Rugby
• ProfileLeeds Carnegie
• England Rugby
• Sporting Heroes
• Leeds Tykes