Biography
Gomarsall sprang to prominence when he led the 1992 England Schools U18 team to their first Grand Slam in 11 years. The following season, he joined London Wasps and made his full England debut in 1996 against Italy. In 1997 he played in three Five Nations games and came on twice as a replacement on tour in Argentina.
On the club scene, he was a member of London Wasps’ 1999 Powergen Cup winning side, then transferred to Bedford, where he was captain, before being persuaded to join Gloucester Rugby. He was a Gloucester Rugby favourite, and took part in his second Powergen Cup triumph in 2003.
In 2002 Gomarsall re-ignited his England rugby career after a period of 27 months in the international wilderness, when he played in the 26–18 win over Argentina in Buenos Aires in June. He sealed his place as one of the three scrum halves for the World Cup with a strong performance in England's 43–9 defeat of Wales at the Millennium Stadium, during the World Cup warm up matches. He scored two tries in the 111–13 win over Uruguay in the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Brisbane.
Emerging enhanced from his World Cup performances, Gomarsall was selected as England vice captain for the non-cap game against the New Zealand Barbarians in December 2003. Gomarsall started all three of England’s 2004 Autumn internationals at Twickenham and was vice captain in the England XV against the Barbarians in May as well as the Churchill Cup tour.
However, injury led to his replacement at both Gloucester Rugby and England, and so to prolong his career he signed a three year deal with Worcester Warriors in June 2005. However, his injury worries returned to plague him, and he was released along with nine other players by Worcester in May 2006, two months short of the end of the season.
On 25 September 2006 Gomarsall signed a one year "pay-as-you-play" deal with Harlequins: ""It was shocking what happened to me and I wouldn't want that to happen to anyone else. I love rugby so much and have really missed it. I'm very grateful to Quins for giving me this opportunity.".
Gomarsall performed well for Harlequins and was selected for the England squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. It was his kick down the touchline that enabled Josh Lewsey to score 5 points — the eventual winning margin for England that sent them into the final against South Africa on 20 October 2007.
In 2008, Gomarsall started the first two Six Nations games before being dropped for the third against France.
He was a co-commentator for ITV's coverage of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Read more about this topic: Andy Gomarsall
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