2 League. Sale Rugby Union Football Club At the beginning of the 1988-99 season, in conjunction with teammate George Doggart, Pears signed for Sale. Shortly afterwards he was invited to attend an under 21 international training session at Nottingham. He gained his first England B cap on 22 October 1988, when England were beaten by Australia. He gained his first North Divisional representative cap against the Midlands, a few days before his 21st birthday, scoring nineteen points with five penalties and one try. By 1989, Pears career was riding high, he finished 8th overall in the ‘Top Points’ competition, scoring 239 points, including seven tries, fourteen conversions, fifty-four penalties and seven drop goals. Harlequins Rugby Union Football Club After spending a season with Sale, Pears moved further south to join Twickenham based club Harlequins, where he spent most of the 1990s. During his time at Harlequins the club reached two Pilkington Cup finals. They won the first against Northampton in 1991 and lost the second against Bath the following year. Both went to extra-time. His junior international career was also gaining strength, with games against the United States of America, Roumania, Ireland, Italy, Fiji, France and Russia. International Pears won four caps for England, the last two against France in Paris, where they won both matches. The first game, in 1992, was a brutal affair. Two of the French forwards were sent off and England won quite convincingly, 31-13. Pears came on midway through the first half after Rob Andrew suffered a nasty gash to his head. However, within a minute of stepping on the field Jean-François Tordo gave him a crack and broke his nose. That was nothing compared to the rest of the injuries he sustained through his career. He once suffered a suspected broken neck playing in a Seven-a-side game for Harlequins. On another occasion on the Friday before an international against Wales, he tore a hamstring in training, denying him the chance to play at Twickenham. He also broke his ankle the week before Andrew announced his retirement, and missed three whole seasons as a result. He was regarded by many as Andrew's natural successor in the England No.10 jersey but Mike Catt got the opportunity instead. Final years After leaving Harlequins he had a short spell at both Bracknell and Worcester. Geoff Cooke tried to persuade him to go full-time at Worcester but he turned