Balshaw
Iain Balshaw is a Rugby World Cup-winner who represented England and the British and Irish Lions
Iain Balshaw Bio
Iain Balshaw is a Rugby World Cup-winning fullback and wing who also played for sides like Bath, Leeds, Gloucester and Biarritz.
Born 18 April 1979, Iain Balshaw played junior rugby for Preston Grasshoppers. As a teenager, he then joined Bath in 1997. From here, it only took a year until Iain Balshaw made his debut for the first XV. He then went on to enjoy a highly successful career with the side, representing them 127 times between 1997 and 2004.
However, when he moved to Leeds in 2004, his game really flourished. Although he was injured at the beginning of his first season with the side, he quickly impressed and was rewarded with the captaincy for the Anglo-Welsh Cup semi-final in 2005. Sadly, Iain Balshaw was injured during the final, but he was able to watch his teammates lift the trophy from the stands.
When Leeds were relegated from the Premiership in 2006, Iain Balshaw signed for Gloucester. He then stayed with the side until 2009, when he left English rugby and signed for French Top 14 side Biarritz, where he stayed until his retirement in 2014. During his stint with the club, he helped Biarritz win the European Rugby Challenge Cup in 2012.
Thanks to his successes at domestic level, Iain Balshaw was selected to play for England 35 times between 2000 and 2008. During this time, he was a member of the England team that lifted the Rugby World Cup in 2003. He also won three test caps for the British and Irish Lions in 2001.
Since retiring from rugby in 2014, Iain Balshaw has been involved in the running of a rugby fan website. He also works in the private sector for a foreign exchange provider.
