DOB: 8/11/74
Birthplace: Crawley, West Sussex, England.
Height: 6''
Weight: 13st 8lbs
Position: Winger
Club: London Irish
Province: ----
Caps: 25
Lions caps: none
International record: 8 tries
Debut: vs South Africa, 1998

Justin Bishop, known as "Geezer" in recognition of his of his English upbringing, forced his way back into World Cup reckoning after a great 2001-2 season with the English Powergen Cup-winning London Irish team, playing in Ireland's final two Six Nations 2003 games against Wales and England. The winger burst on to the international scene on the South African tour of 1998 with a spectacular up-and-under try on debut. Despite his Crawley upbringing, a man born into the emerald shirt of Ireland - his mother from Holywood, the Ulster home town of Ireland team-mate Kieron Dawson, his grandfather capped by Ireland and his great-uncle and cousin becoming the first ever father and son to hold the posts of IRFU president and vice-president respectively. ''There is a lot of history behind it,'' said Bishop. ''I was brought up in an Irish family, everything was Irish-orientated. My mum was always playing Irish music and all her side of the family are Irish," he told the Irish Examiner. The self-confessed Corrs fan is fighting his way back into the Irish World Cup 2003 squad after his season was curtailed by a nasty ankle injury against Saracens in April.

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