Simon Taylor (rugby player)

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Simon Taylor
Full name	Simon Marcus Taylor
Date of birth	1979-08-17
Place of birth	Stirling, Scotland
Height	1.93 m
Weight	105 kg
Rugby union career
Position	Flanker, Number eight
Professional clubs
2000-	Edinburgh
correct as of 14 Sept 2006.
National team(s)		Caps	(points)
2000-	Scotland	46	(25)
correct as of 14 Sept 2006.
7's National teams
2002	Scotland	{{{ru_sevensnationalcomp}}}
correct as of 14 Sept 2006.
Other Information
University	Edinburgh University

Simon Marcus Taylor (born 17 August 1979 in Stirling) is a Scottish professional rugby union footballer. He is a back-row forward, usually a number eight. He plays for Edinburgh, represents Scotland and British and Irish Lions.

Taylor lists carving wood-cuts and Peter Cushing films as his hobbies. His most respected player is Mike Blair whom he has played with for Edinburgh and Scotland for the past 3 seasons.

Contents 1 Career so far 1.1 Early career 1.2 2000-2003 1.3 2004 1.4 2005

[edit] Career so far

[edit] Early career

Taylor represented Scottish Schools in 1995-96 while he was at Morrison's Academy, and he went on to play for Scotland’s under-18, under-19, and under-21 teams. He had two seasons in the under-19 team, leading the Scots in the Junior World Championship in France in 1998.

After five matches for the national under-21 side in 1998-1999 he went on to play in ten more under-21 internationals in 1999-2000, including the victory over the New Zealand Youth at Jedburgh in December and the draw with Australia during the 2000 Southern Hemisphere Alliance tournament in New Zealand. In that latter match Taylor scored a try. In 1999-2000 he played a pivotal role in Heriot’s FP’s second successive club championship and was rewarded with a professional contract with Edinburgh Reivers at the beginning of season 2000-2001.

[edit] 2000-2003

Simon Taylor made his first appearance for Scotland in the November 2000 Autumn Test against the USA. In summer 2001 he made a try-scoring debut for the British & Irish Lions in their 116-10 victory over Western Australia before a knee injury unfortunately ended his tour and he returned to Scotland to pass the final exams of his law degree at Edinburgh University.

He scored his first test try in the match against Canada on the 2002 tour in which he started at openside flanker and then made some pile-driving contributions when he was fielded at No 8 against the USA. He scored his first try in a Murrayfield Test match in Scotland’s 30-22 March 2003 win against Wales. He was named Lloyds TSB Man of the Match for his display against Italy in the 29-12 Scotland victory in February 2002.

On the 26 May 2002, Taylor was selected to play for the Barbarians against England. He scored twice, but England won 53 to 29.

At the 2002 Commonwealth Games, Taylor was a member of the Scottish Sevens squad who won the Men's Bowl Competition Quarter Finals.

Simon was named The Famous Grouse Scotland Player of the Season for 2002-2003, fitting reward for performances encapsulated by his heroic defensive contribution to the game against England when he weighed in with 23 tackles.

In the 2003 World Cup he started in every match.

[edit] 2004

Taylor suffered a serious knee injury in the final game of the Six Nations in Ireland in 2004.

[edit] 2005

Taylor was out for the best part of a year with a knee ligament injury and was unable to do any aerobic activity. He used the time to do some serious weight work and there is a general consensus that he is now about a stone and a half more than his official 17 stones.

He returned for the Scotland v Italy Six Nations fixture and lasted the pace well enough for most of the game. He looked more like his old self in the following game vs. Wales on March 13, 2005. After the tournament, he became one of only three Scots named to the Lions for their 2005 tour to New Zealand. In New Zealand he injured a hamstring and did not play a match. It was at that point he considered retiring, but after meeting with his brother in Sydney he decided against it.