Dave Sims (rugby union)

David Sims (22 November 1969 – 19 March 2022)[1] was an English rugby union footballer, a lock forward for Gloucester RFC. He won three England caps on the 1998 Tour of Hell.

Dave Sims
Full nameDavid Sims
Date of birth(1969-11-22)22 November 1969
Place of birthGloucester, Gloucestershire, England
Date of death19 March 2022(2022-03-19) (aged 52)
Height6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Notable relative(s)Jenny Sims, Ed Sims
Occupation(s)Building site manager / former Rugby player
Rugby union career
Youth career
Coaching career
Years Team

Career

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Club rugby

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Born in Gloucester and educated at Churchdown School,[2] Sims is the grandson of former Cheltenham and England player Tom Price.[3][2] After playing for Longlevens RFC, he made his debut for Gloucester in the 1987–88 season, progressing to the first XV by November 1988.[3] He played for the club for 12 years, including captaining the team for two seasons.[3][4] He moved to Worcester for the 1999–2000 season before moving on loan to Bedford in January 2000.[3] In 2001, he captained the England National Divisions team against Australia at Welford Road Stadium.[5] He joined Exeter in 2002,[4] before moving on to Launceston RFC, Taunton R.F.C., and then after being released by Taunton joined Wellington RFC, where he filled a player/coach role and took the club to the Western Counties West league.[3][6][7] He then became head coach for the Withycombe RFC senior squads, while playing at lock for the 1st XV.[3][8]

Sims represented The Barbarians on three occasions, in 1995, 1996, and 1999.[3]

International rugby

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Sims represented England at Under 21 level in 1990, before going to represent the country at B, A and senior level, gaining three senior caps on the 1998 England rugby union tour of Australasia and South Africa.[3][2][9]

References

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  1. ^ Gloucester Rugby legend Dave Sims dies aged 52, Gloucestershirelive.co.uk
  2. ^ a b c Hewett, Chris (1998) "Rugby union: Sims of The Shed mans England's roughhouse", The Independent, 12 June 1998. Retrieved 4 February 2019
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Sims, Dave", Gloucester Rugby Heritage. Retrieved 4 February 2019
  4. ^ a b Palmer, Bryn (2002) "Sims relishes Gloucester return", BBC, 19 December 2002. Retrieved 4 February 2019
  5. ^ "Sims Ready for Wallaby Challenge", ESPN, 26 October 2001. Retrieved 4 February 2019
  6. ^ "Sims is New Wellington Coach", Wellington Today, 2 June 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2019
  7. ^ "RUGBY: Dave Sims quits as Wellington coach", County Gazette, 1 November 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2019
  8. ^ "Spotlight On: Withycombe Target Historic Win", England Rugby, 22 April 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2019
  9. ^ "Where are they now – England, 1998", Premiershiprugby.com, 12 June 2003. Retrieved 4 February 2019
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