Former Warriors and England lock Dave Sims has died aged 52 from a suspected heart attack.
Sims’ long playing career included a three-year stint with Warriors between 1999 and 2002 during which the club narrowly missed out on promotion from National One – now the Championship – to the Premiership.
He arrived at Sixways from Gloucester where he enjoyed a successful 12-year stint having progressed from the Longlevens club to Gloucester Colts.
Sims captained Gloucester from 1995 to 1997 and again in the 1998/2000 season and won his three caps on the Southern Hemisphere ‘Tour of Hell’ in 1998 – two against New Zealand and the third against South Africa.
During his first season with Warriors, Sims had a spell on loan at Bedford Blues but when he returned to Sixways he was voted Player of the Season for 2000/01 and represented the National Divisions XV against South Africa at Sixways and Australia at Welford Road. Sims captained the representative XV against the Wallabies.
Sims also made appearances for the Barbarians, played Divisional rugby for the South West, captained Gloucestershire to the County Championship title in 2002 and also played for England at Under-21, A and B levels.
After leaving Warriors, Sims played for Exeter Chiefs between 2002 and 2005 and then had stints with Launceston, Taunton and Wellington as well as a spell as head coach of Withycombe.
The thoughts of all at Sixways go to the family and friends of Dave Sims.