Dream Team with Chris Pilgrim

Chris Pilgrim, The Caldy and former Nottingham, Leeds and Newcastle scrum-half, chooses the best XV he has played with or against

1. Derek Salisbury – Caldy’s lynchpin, Degs could have easily been a Premiership tight-head in the right era. He’s like a Julian White – as hard as hell – and I’d back him to play on the other side of the scrum.

2, Jack Walker – Was just breaking through when I played with him at Leeds and you could see how exceptionally talented he was. A born leader. I’d also mention Tom Youngs who I played with in a Barbarians game. What a character, what a player.

3. Carl Hayman – In his time he was probably the best tight-head in the world but, like Tom, he was another down-to-earth guy who you could have a beer with. There is no ego, no side to him. My captain at Newcastle.

4. Dean Schofield – One helluva lump. Having him sat behind Carl, I couldn’t imagine a better scrum. A very good character to have in any team as well. Played with him at Leeds.

5. Tim Swinson – Another workhorse. Swinno is a good friend of mine and he went on to do some good things when he left Newcastle, at Saracens and with Scotland. Had a real engine on him and did a lot of unseen work.

6. Mark Wilson – The epitome of the unseen hero. I was made up for him when he got his England caps as no one worked harder for them than him. Came through the hard way.

7. Will Welch – Newcastle’s youngest-ever captain and another exceptional grafter. Had one hell of a career. His body must be in bits now because he has been smashing into brick walls since he was 17.

8. Adam Balding – In my first year at Newcastle he was an established player and kind of took me under his wing. I’d sit next to him on the team coach and he was a very humble and welcoming bloke but also a top player and very hard in his own right.

9. Peter Stringer – He came into my life towards the end of my time at Falcons, when I’d have been in my late-20s. I really wish I’d have been around him earlier in my career because he was a brilliant role model. He put in so many hours to keep improving well into his late 30s. Another genuinely nice fella, too.

10. Joel Hodgson – Played with him at Newcastle and at Leeds. An exceptional talent and I think he would say, a lot of it was left unfulfilled. I am not putting a downer on his career but I think he could have probably gone a bit further with more luck. Tim Taylor is also in the conversation. I played with him at the start of my pro career at Nottingham and we shared a flat. He turned me from an idiot student into a pro.

11. Sinoti Sinoti – Can run around you, over you and side-step you. I have never seen anyone run like him, every muscle of his body moves.

12. Kevin Sinfield – My half-back partner at Leeds for a year. I reckon he’d have been a really good 12 had he switched earlier. A once-in-alifetime human being who I’d make my captain.

13. Rob Vickerman – A good mate and another grafter. I at the start of my pro switched earlier. A once like to have people who have a bit of ticker and a bit of heart and he has plenty. Did have a bit of pace too, until he did his ACL.

14. Luke Fielden – Came to Newcastle from Bedford. Could score tries from out of nowhere, including what he called the ‘Million Pound Try’ – the one against Bath that saved us from relegation. I liked the fact he was a footballer who could come off his wing and play first receiver.

15. Alex Tait – Extremely dedicated individual. Having the Tait genetics obviously helped but he was also a very good rugby player in his own right who put in the hours and motivated me. Tom Catterick had a really good rugby IQ and is my choice for the bench.