International Career
Thompson made his debut for England in the 2002 Six Nations against his former mentor’s side Scotland and the men in white came out on top. He was selected for England’s summer tour to North America in 2001, where he did well. He scored his maiden test try against Italy in the 2003 Six Nations, a tournament which saw England win the Grand Slam. Thompson made a significant contribution to England's southern hemisphere tour in June 2003, playing in both victorious tests against New Zealand and Australia.
He was a member of the England team that won the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He played a part in all but one of England’s World Cup performances in Australia and scored his second test try in England’s opening World Cup match against Georgia in Perth.
Thompson continued as an England regular in the Autumn games of 2004. He was selected for the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand. On the tour he seemed to have regained some of his form after a poor 2005 Six Nations.
On May 19, 2009 Martin Johnson gave Thompson a surprise call up for England's summer games against The Barbarians and Argentina. Thompson was recalled to the England squad for the 2009 autumn internationals along with 2003 world cup winners Jonny Wilkinson and Lewis Moody.
In the 2011 RBS Six Nations he scored the only try for England in their match against Ireland on 19 March 2011, a tournament which saw England win the Six Nations. He also played in England's dismal 2011 RWC campaign, and was one of a minority of players whose reputation did not suffer.
On 3 December 2011 Thompson announced his immediate retirement from the game, following a recurrence of a serious neck injury sustained in Wasps' training in late-October. He will undergo surgery to relieve symptoms of numbness and dizziness, but to carry on playing would carry serious risk to his health.
Read more about this topic: Steve Thompson (rugby Union)
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