Steve Thompson (rugby union)
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| Full name | Steve Geoffrey Thompson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 15 July 1978 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Hemel Hempstead, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 118 kg (18 st 8 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Northampton School for Boys | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position(s) | Hooker | ||
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| Youth Career | |||
| Northampton Old Scouts RFC | |||
| Senior career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 1998–2007 2007–2010 2010–2011 2011 |
Northampton Saints CA Brive Leeds Carnegie London Wasps |
195 42 20 1 |
(80) (10) (15) (0) |
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 2002–2011 2005 |
England British and Irish Lions |
73 3 |
(20) (0) |
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Correct as of 13 November 2011
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Steve Thompson MBE (formerly Steve Walter; born 15 July 1978) is a former rugby union player who played at hooker for Northampton Saints and England.
He was once England's most capped hooker, and has played for the British and Irish Lions.
Formerly Steve Walter, born 15 July 1978 in Hemel Hempstead, he started playing rugby at 15 at the Northampton School for Boys and went on to play for Northampton Old Scouts alongside Ben Cohen in a very successful youth team. He also trained with the youth section of Saints and, at 18, was selected for the apprentice scheme at the club's academy as a back row forward. Former Saints coach Ian McGeechan and coaches at Northampton Old Scouts RFC persuaded him to convert to being a hooker. Despite competing against the Argentinian Federico Méndez in the 1999–2000 season for his club place, he still managed to force his way into the England A squad. Thompson continued to develop as a player and became co-captain of Northampton Saints. At Northampton he was a replacement in the victorious 2000 Heineken Cup Final as they defeated Munster.
On 15 April 2007 Thompson announced his immediate retirement from rugby due to a career ending neck injury that he had suffered during the closing Heineken Cup pool match against Biarritz at Franklin's Gardens in January 2007.
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