Claim: Before there were to be a handful of further first team appearances in the 2002–03 season both in the starting line up and from the bench, Ben Skirving, a rugby union footballer who plays at number eight for Bristol joining Saracens' academy system in 1999, worked his way through the club's development sides before making his first team debut against Leeds Tykes.
Evidence: Ben Skirving (born 9 October 1983) is a rugby union footballer who plays at number eight for Bristol and has been capped for the England national side. After joining Saracens' academy system in 1999 Skirving worked his way through the club's development sides before making his first team debut against Leeds Tykes in the final fixture of 2002. There were to be a handful of further first team appearances in the 2002–03 season both in the starting line up and from the bench.