James Simpson-Daniel burst on to the English stage with a try on debut for Gloucester against Rotherham in 2001. After represting England Sevens in Hong Kong, scoring a hat-trick as they won the final, Simpson-Daniel won his first England cap against New Zealand in November 2002.

Notoriously injury-prone, Simpson-Daniel has struggled to find regular fitness since his debut and has only won 10 caps in seven years since then. His talent is undeniable, and as a crusading wing or a creative outside centre he has thrilled crowds at Kingsholm regularly.

In recent seasons his club form has signalled him as an answer to England's dearth of creativity but again his injury problems have prevented him from adding to his criminally low number of caps. Currently a member of the England saxons squad, he has played all of his club rugby at Kingsholm and at the start of 2011 he signed a new three-year deal with the Premiership club. Simpson-Daniel was a key part of the Gloucester squad that lifted the Anglo-Welsh cup and in June 2011 was named in Martin Johnson's 45-man training squad for the World Cup.