Simon John Halliday was born 13/7/1960 in Haverfordwest, in Wales and educated at Downside and Oxford University. He won the first of three rugby Blues in 1979 and was also a Cricket Blue (1980). He scored 113 not out versus Kent.
Height 6 foot. Playing weight 13st 10 lb. Centre/Winger. Nickname: ‘Hallers’
His rugby career was interrupted by a severe leg injury suffered when playing for Somerset v Middlesex in the County Championship 1983. It was to be a long road back to playing fitness and it was greatly to his credit that he was able to return to Bath’s premier side and impress the England selectors.
Halliday was tough and uncompromising on the field, but a popular and articulate gentleman off it. One of Bath’s ‘party tricks’ was for Richard Hill to miss out his inside centre and find ‘Hallers’ on the angle - at speed - 10 to 15 yards from the opposition line, thus enabling him to score many of his 63 tries.
Debut game
28/12/1981 v Clifton, Home, Won 31-0. Team:- A Janes, A Collins, A Rees, S Halliday, D Wyatt, J Horton (Capt), C Stanley, C Lilley, C Legg, R Lee, N Gaymond, R Matthews, S Jones, J Hall, R Lye. Referee: Tony Spreadbury (ex Beechen Cliff School, Bath)
Last appearance for the Club:- 5/5/1990 in The Pilkington Cup. Arguably Bath’s greatest game when, on a scorching-hot afternoon, Gloucester were put to the sword to the tune of 48 points to 6.
Team:- J Callard, A Swift, S Halliday, J Guscott, A Adebayo, S Barnes, R Hill, V Ubogu, G Dawe, G Chilcott, N Redman, D Cronin, A Robinson, K Withey, D Egerton.
His Bath record -170 appearances, 63 tries, 4 conversions – 260 points.
He played in 5 of Bath’s winning cup finals.
His international debut was at home to Wales 18th January 1986, when England won 21-18. His final cap was in a 24-0 win over Wales on 7th March 1992 – again on Twickenham’s hallowed turf.
Halliday played on the wing as a losing finalist in the 1991 World Cup. The back division was comprised of Richard Hill, Rob Andrew, Rory Underwood, Jeremy Guscott, Will Carling, Simon Halliday, and Jonathan Webb. England lost 6-12 to Australia. However, he had the consolation of participating in England’s Grand Slam in 1992.
He played 23 times for England - 16 caps with Bath and 7 with Harlequins.
Halliday appeared four times for Barbarians between 1985 and 1989, scoring two tries.
His best game for Bath?
There were so many fine performances. The one that brings tears to old men’s eyes - Bath 16, Cardiff 13 on the evening of 23rd October 1985. Estimated attendance 9000+
Stuart Barnes, John Palmer and Simon Halliday combined for one of the finest exhibitions of mid-field play ever witnessed on the Rec.
Simon is a non executive director at Bath Rugby
In his spare time, he is a charity fundraising organizer for CRY. “Cardiac Risk in the Young” and encouraged several other rugby stars to join him in the 2006 Bath Half-Marathon.
Profession:- Investment Banker
Peter Hall 2006 ©
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