Simon Mason (rugby union) explained

Simon Mason
Full Name:Simon John Mason
Birth Date:22 October 1973
Birth Place:Wirral, England
Height:6 ft 1 in
Weight:200 lb
Position:Fullback
Repyears1:1996
Repcaps1:3
Reppoints1:42

Simon John Mason (born 22 October 1973) is an English-born former Ireland rugby union international.

Mason was born and raised in Wirral but has Irish grandparents, thus qualifying for Ireland.[1] He attended St Anselm's College in Birkenhead, where he was a teammate of future England player Austin Healey.[2]

A fullback, Mason was capped three times for Ireland in 1996, for two Five Nations matches and then the country's first ever Test loss to Samoa. He was one of eight Irish players to be dropped following the Samoa match.[3]

Mason played Premiership Rugby for Richmond in 1997–98, then had two seasons at Ulster. He won the 1999 Heineken Cup title with Ulster and accumulated 144 points during the campaign, going on to be named Ulster's "Player of the Year".[4]

Following his time in Northern Ireland, Mason signed a three-year contract with Stade Français in the Top 14, but left after one season.[5] He spent the next three seasons in Italy playing for Treviso.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Mason's kicks give Orrell edge . . 13 November 1995.
  2. News: 'My wife's going to burn my boots': Ulster's European Cup hero Simon Mason still loving rugby at 46 . . 12 May 2020.
  3. News: The Last Amateurs: Why Simon Mason felt right at home with Ulster before inspiring European Cup glory . Belfast Telegraph . 7 November 2018.
  4. News: Awards: Eddie on pole at the Europa . Belfast Telegraph . 7 December 1999.
  5. News: Coughlan . Barry . Mason expecting no Thomond cheer . . 12 December 2003 . en.
  6. News: Italian club with designs on major result . . 16 January 2010 . en.