Lions, England and Bath three-quarter Mike Catt picked up a somewhat unlikely half century of international appearances in the 2001 Six Nations Championship during England's comprehensive defeat of Italy at Twickenham.
The 'Englishman', who still has the tell-tale accent that betrays his South African origins, has been loved and loathed by the Twickenham faithful in equal measure since he first wore the white jersey with some inconsistent performances giving his detractors plenty of ammunition.
However, he enjoyed a renaissance in his career in 2000/01 when he was firmly installed as England's first choice inside-centre even though he has turned out at outside-half, full-back and even wing for the England Test team.
A mainstay for his club Bath, he won selection to his second Lions tour to Australia in 2001, having toured the land of his birth in 1997, although injury cut short his tour.
Born in Port Elizabeth, Catt first made his name for Eastern Province Under-21s in South Africa before arriving in the northern hemisphere on holiday.
After trialing for Gloucester, Catt made his Bath debut as a 21-year-old against Nottingham in 1992 and 18 months later was given his international debut at Twickenham when he came on as a replacement for Rob Andrew in the England's 15-8 defeat of Wales at Twickenham in the 1994 Five Nations Championship
Catt then became a mainstay out of position at No.15 in England’s Grand Slam winning side of 1995, before memorably helping his adopted country to the semi-finals of the 1995 World Cup in his native South Africa, one of the unfortunate players bulldozed by Jonah Lomu.
He then spent a transitional period at Test level, plagued by injuries and poor form, but when club coach Clive Woodward replaced Rowell in 1997 as coach, Woodward announced that he would always try to find a place for the talented Catt because he was just too good to leave out.
After returning from the 2001 Lions, Catt recovered to take his place back in the England side but another injury ended his season in early 2002 ruled him out of that year's Six Nations.
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