The Rec looms for Simon Shaw
After 14 years of loyal service at Adams Park, you may have been forgiven for thinking Simon Shaw would see out his career at a club for whom he had given so much.
But with London Wasps very much in a transitional phase struggling to live up to their former glories, newly appointed director of rugby Dai Young clearly feels his new employees are in need of a new approach.
Once English and European powerhouses, Simon Shaw played a key role in their double Guinness Premiership and Heineken Cup winning seasons.
Having been a Wasp since the game turned professional in 1997, Shaw has been a club stalwart building up a well-deserved, worldwide reputation as one of the finest locks in the game.
But despite all he has achieved in High Wycombe, the 37-year-old wasn't offered a new contract as Young and Wasps look to rebuild their playing squad before the start of the new season.
Some might say Shaw's services have been ruthlessly discarded, no longer deemed requirable.
But the truth is that the career of Simon Shaw has been far from straightforward. This is just the latest chapter in a long-winded novel that is set to reach a dramatic conclusion in the coming months.
Rumours suggest the man nicknamed 'Shawsy' is on the verge of agreeing a deal to move to The Rec to work under Sir Ian McGeechan as he tries to realise the lofty ambitions of the West-Country club.
Having had a previous successful working relationship with 'Geech' with Wasps and the Lions, reports suggest Shaw is set for one final hurrah before finally hanging up his boots at the end of the season.
But, question marks still remain over whether Shaw's final year in top-flight rugby shall include a place in England's 30-man World Cup squad.
Shaw, who has won 66 caps for his adopted country, is competing for one of the second-row positions with Tom Palmer, Courtney Lawes, Louis Deacon and Mourtiz Botha.
Were it not for a certain Martin Johnson, Shaw would have surely have added to his number of international caps by now. Shaw once said: "Clive Woodward once told me that he would like to play Martin Johnson and myself together but we were too alike. I don't know about you, but two Martin Johnsons in the second row sounds alright to me.
For one reason or another, Woodward has often overlooked Shaw throughout his international career.
In both 1999 and 2003, Shaw was told he had failed to make the final squad of 30 despite giving his all in the pre-tournament camps.
In 2003, he received a winners medal but was called was called up to the squad as a late, injury replacement and didn't play single minute of competitive action in the tournament.
Where as in 2007, he was one of England's main men as they battled their way to the final against all odds only to suffer a heart-breaking loss to South Africa.
There is certainly a logistical argument about Shaw living in the shadow of Martin Johnson for the majority of his career.
For the 1997 British and Irish Lions, Shaw was a 1997 tourist but failed to make the test team as Johnson went on to lead the winning test squad to victory.
In 2001, Shaw was called up to the party as a late, injury replacement but once again failed to force his way into the test team as Johnson skippered the Lions for the second series in a row.
In 2005 yet again, Shaw was overlooked for a test spot by Woodward and had to make do with a spot in the unbeaten midweek team.
But in 2009 and 18 Lions jerseys later, Shaw finally wore a test jersey for the first time.
The fairytale was finally a reality as he gave a sensational man-of-the-match performance in the 2nd test at Loftus Versveld.
Despite losing the match and the series on that same afternoon, it was one of the greatest individual rugby performances I have ever seen as he took his place amongst the rugby greats with a sterling effort around the park in the loose and at the breakdown.
Of the second test defeat, Shaw said in his autobiography: "There aren't any words to truly sum up the way I felt after the final whistle. It was my last Lions tour, and the realization I wasn't going to get another chance to help contribute t the Lions winning a series was gut wrenching and probably explains why I was unusually emotional in public after the match.
"I found myself welling up during a television interview when I was asked to give the viewers an insight into that very personal moment. What could I say? I felt like breaking down and sobbing in front of you all?
It was a performance of the highest order and in the post-match interview, http://tinyurl.com/3v6hkdb, his words and tears showed the honesty and professionalism of the man.
And after all these years of putting his battered body on the line, Shaw is a realist and recognises that there is not much more for him to give.
What he brings to a pack is truly commendable. His style of play speaks volumes about Shaw as a person and whilst we don't know what the next few months hold for Shaw, it would be a crying shame if he were omitted from Johnson's final 30.
Maybe he won't necessarily start, but his experience coming off the bench as an impact substitution in the knockout stages could prove to be a vital ingredient for England.
Even if the unthinkable happens and he is overlooked for World Cup selection, an exciting season ahead at The Rec still looms.
Whatever the next few months hold for Simon Shaw regarding World Cup selection and a transfer to Bath, this shall be a final hurrah of the highest order.
Thankyou Shawsy.
