Halliday Simon

 

Player Simon Halliday 1

Simon Halliday

Position: Centre

Born: 13th July 1960 in Haverfordwest, in Wales .

Height: 6 ft

Weight: 13st 10 lb

Education: Downside School and Oxford University

Achievements:

Honours: Dorset and Wilts U19, Oxford Blue, England U23, English Students, England (23 caps), Barbarians (4 caps)

Debut game: 28th December 1981 v Clifton

Final game: 5th May 1990 v Gloucester in the Pilkington Cup – Final

Number of Appearances: 170

Career details:

Hallers won the first of three rugby Blues in 1979 and was also a Cricket Blue (1980). He scored 113 not out versus Kent.

His rugby career was interrupted by a severe leg injury suffered when playing for Somerset v Middlesex in the County Championship 1983. It was to be a long road back to playing fitness and it was greatly to his credit that he was able to return to Bath’s premier side and impress the England selectors.

Halliday was tough and uncompromising on the field, but a popular and articulate gentleman off it. One of Bath’s ‘party tricks’ was for Richard Hill to miss out his inside centre and find ‘Hallers’ on the angle – at speed – 10 to 15 yards from the opposition line, thus enabling him to score many of his 63 tries.

Adept at playing inside or outside centre, formed a truly exquisite centre partnership with Jeremy Guscott. A strong ball carrier and great hands.

His Bath record -170 appearances, 63 tries, 4 conversions – 260 points.  He played in 5 of Bath’s winning cup finals.

His international debut was at home to Wales 18th January 1986, when England won 21-18. His final cap was in a 24-0 win over Wales on 7th March 1992 – again on Twickenham’s hallowed turf.

Halliday played on the wing as a losing finalist in the 1991 World Cup. The back division was comprised of Richard Hill, Rob Andrew, Rory Underwood, Jeremy Guscott, Will Carling, Simon Halliday, and Jonathan Webb. England lost 6-12 to Australia. However, he had the consolation of participating in England’s Grand Slam in 1992.

He played 23 times for England – 16 caps with Bath and 7 with Harlequins.

Halliday appeared four times for Barbarians between 1985 and 1989, scoring two tries.

He left Bath and joined Harlequins before retiring from the game in 1992 due to long term injuries

Author of City Centre published 2013. He is currently Independent Chairman of European Rugby Eurpoeans Cup.