The memory chair: Q&A with Iain Balshaw on his rugby career

World Cup 2003 winner Iain Balshaw had his favourite rugby shirts made into a chair. He tells Emily Horton about his career highlights

Iain Balshaw MBE began his rugby career at Bath, winning his first international cap for England at just 21. A fullback, he was part of the winning 2003 World Cup team before retiring from Biarritz last year. He nows runs RugbyPigs.com, a dedicated rugby news website. He had his favourite rugby shirts from his illustrious career displayed on a chair. Here he tells about some of the highlights...

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Iain Balshaw

Iain Balshaw

IB “My chair reminds me of the great times I have had over the past 17 years, plus it’s so original”

IB “There is a shirt for every team I’ve played for, including my school jersey, Stonyhurst U15XV”

IB “I left school at 18 and started my first professional contract at Bath. I played with Jerry Guscott, Mike Catt, Iuan Evans, Victor Ubogu, Phil de Glanville and Ben Clarke”

IB “I was picked for the Lions at 21. It’s a highlight in any British or Irish player’s career”

IB “This is my Leeds shirt where I stayed for two seasons and captained the team that won the Amlin Cup in 2004-05”

IB “I loved playing for the Barbarians, a team made up of the world’s rugby legends”

IB “It’s an honour to play for your country, but to win the RWC in 2003

was just incredible”

IB “I always wanted to play for a French club; during my five seasons at Biarritz, we got to the 2010 Heineken Cup final” 

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Kelly Swallow

Kelly Swallow is an upholsterer who specializes in bespoke, patchwork chairs. Her creations have been featured on Sky Sports’s The Rugby Club and BBC’s DIY SOS. Taking around eight weeks to produce, they cost between £1,200 to £2,200 each. Contact Kelly to create your own personal memories chair (01992) 310 280; kellyswallow.com; @patchworkchairs)

KS “Doing patchwork with sports shirts is about as tricky as it gets! Line each patch with a heavier fabric to give structure”

KS “The variety of colours, textures and patterns of the shirts is part of the charm”

KS “Fabrics of complementing colour are used between each shirt”

KS “Put your player number on the chair back to mimic its position on the shirt”

KS “We painted the chair legs different colours to echo the assortment element of patchwork”

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