but England won 53 to 29. At the 2002 Commonwealth Games, Taylor was a member of the Scottish Sevens squad who won the Men's Bowl Competition Quarter Finals. Taylor was named The Famous Grouse Scotland Player of the Season for 2002–2003, fitting reward for performances encapsulated by his heroic defensive contribution to the game against England when he made 23 tackles. In the 2003 World Cup he started in every match. 2004 Taylor suffered a serious knee injury in the final game of the Six Nations in Ireland in 2004. 2005 Taylor was out for the best part of a year with a knee ligament injury and was unable to do any aerobic activity. He used the time to do some serious weight work and there is a general consensus that he is now about a stone and a half more than his official 17 stones. He returned for the Scotland v Italy Six Nations fixture and lasted the pace well enough for most of the game. He looked more like his old self in the following game vs. Wales on 13 March 2005. After the tournament, he became one of only three Scots named to the Lions for their 2005 tour to New Zealand. In New Zealand he injured a hamstring and did not play a match. 2007 Agreed a three-year deal with Stade Français. Despite residing in France, Taylor, with business partner Barrie Brown, managed a successful foray into the licensed trade with 99 Hanover Street, a style bar in Edinburgh's city centre. 2008 With Taylor continuing his career in France the duo's new venture, Hawke and Hunter, opened in November 2008. Taylor and Brown trade as Brown Taylor Limited and Hawke & Hunter trades from the former Hallion Club on Edinburgh's Picardy Place. 2010 Having reportedly been unhappy with the number of players that play his position at Stade Français, Taylor signed a three-year deal with Bath Rugby. On 19 April 2013 Bath Rugby announced that Taylor was to be one of 7 players leaving the club at the end of the 2012/13 season. At that point, Taylor retired from Rugby and entered the hotel industry. References External links Scotland profile Bath Rugby website 1979 births Living people Rugby union number eights Rugby union players from Stirling Scottish rugby union players Scotland international rugby union players British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Scotland Barbarian F.C.