Twenty years on and still looking good…

Brendan Gallagher looked on as England's World Cup winners from 2003 got together recently

WAISTLINES have expanded and hairlines receded while even those still blessed with flowing locks are greying by the year. England's 20-year World Cup reunion the other week captured a splendid moment in time with all 31 World champions attending to chew the cud. Once a team always a team.

There down in the front row are the old midfield trinity together again – Mike Catt, Mike Tindall and Will Greenwood. Perm any two from three, the days when centre wasn't England's problem position. And to their left are the inseparable Northampton mates Paul Grayson and Matt Dawson who learned the game together at Saints. Wasn't it non-playing reserve Grayson who swallowed his disappointment and took time out to write a herogram of encouragement on the eve of the final and slip it under Dawson's hotel door so his mate could wake up to positive vibes.

Down in the front row far left as you look we have two of Saracens finest who had been playing in England colours together since school days and indeed had starred in the famous England U21 win over Australia 10 years before in Sydney – Richard Hill and Kyran Bracken. Hill copped a bad hamstring injury early in the tournament, but head coach Clive Woodward refused to call for a replacement and was vindicated when his flanker returned for the semi-final and final and performed magnificently. Bracken meanwhile harried the life out of Joost van der Westhuizen in the pool game against South Africa. Akey if sometimes forgotten contribution.

Where else does the eye wander… Back row far left two of the hardest characters to ever pull on a white shirt, Julian White and Danny Grewcock. Not starters in the final but forwards who had helped take England to the number one spot and who provided world class back up at all times. Further along in the back row you have a triumvirate of Tigers excellence – Lewis Moody, skipper Martin Johnson and Neil Back – who were all intimately involved in that final zigzag lineout move to create the dropped goal opportunity for Jonny.

The eye is also drawn to a smiling joking Jason Leonard next to Back. It was of course Leonard who Woodward successfully sent on to try and charm referee Andre Watson who had suddenly taken against England at scrumtime in the second half. Moving further along the back row we have try scorer Jason Robinson, still looking dapper and fit and ready and good to go should the call ever come.

Meanwhile down in the front there's Lawrence Dallaglio, legs akimbo next to Phil Vickery. Dallaglio famously played every single minute of the campaign but who is that next to Vicks? Go on, you can get it… That's Andy Gomarsall who, like Dallaglio and Vicks was to play in a second final four years later. And Jonny? There he is smiling and relaxed between Bracken and Dorian West. He also went to the well again at RW2007.

What a talented bunch. Whether it be in the Jungle, on the Strictly dance floor, the Celebrity chef kitchen or hosting quiz shows. We have a Grand Slam winning assistant coach, an England manager, a British and Irish Lions manager, a member of the royal family, bakers, farmers, restaurateurs, TV and radio pundits, coaches, a WRU administrator, authors, mountaineers, charity activists, teachers, even a trained physiotherapist. A World Cup-winning squad to reckon with on and off the pitch, then and now.

Back row (left to right): Julian White, Danny Grewcock, Dan Luger, Stuart Abbott, Lewis Moody, Martin Johnson, Neil Back, Jason Leonard, Joe Worsley, Ben Kay, Iain Balshaw, Simon Shaw, Martin Corry, Jason Robinson, Mark Regan, Ben Cohen, Steve Thompson

Front row: Richard Hill, Kyran Bracken, Jonny Wilkinson, Dorian West, Lawrence Dallaglio, Phil Vickery, Andy Gomarsall, Josh Lewsey, Mike Catt, Mike Tindall, Will Greenwood, Trevor Woodman, Paul Grayson, Matt Dawson