Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

DavebytheSea wrote:WPC Davies (Staff) played centre for England and British Lions in the 50s, I think

Yes. He was the junior housemaster of Thornton B for much of the time I was there. When I arrived, he wasn't in fact there, because he was touring South Africa with the Lions. David Herbert was standing in for him. (You could hardly imagine a greater contrast. DH wouldn't have known one end of a rugby ball from the other, so to speak.)

Long article on Joe in today's Indie, sorry I'm on my mobile so can't do a link.

Katharine wrote:Long article on Joe in today's Indie, sorry I'm on my mobile so can't do a link.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugb ... 97597.html

Just browsing and I see someone thought that Joe was the first Old Blue for over 100 years to gain an England rugby cap.

Geoff Hines achieved this as a flank forward in the 1960's with quite a number of caps.

It is a great achievement nevertheless and hopefully an inspiration for school rugby players for a few years to come.

Geoff never played for the full England XV.

StephensH wrote:Just browsing and I see someone thought that Joe was the first Old Blue for over 100 years to gain an England rugby cap.

Geoff Hines achieved this as a flank forward in the 1960's with quite a number of caps.

It is a great achievement nevertheless and hopefully an inspiration for school rugby players for a few years to come.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=377&p=52414&hilit= ... nes#p52414

Scroll down to read the words of the man himself. He played for England v The Rest in a trial but never a full international.

I wonder whether Joe's try yesterday was a first for CH or did Shirley Reynolds cross the line all those years ago?

It's a first! Well done to Joe!

http://www.espn.co.uk/statsguru/rugby/p ... view=match

And just to emphasize the situation, he did it again on Saturday...

Wonder if he might be a potential future Captain?

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/f ... ix-nations

Nice piece from The Grauniad

A bit unfair to call him "Shambolic" though.

HowardH wrote:Now that he is in final 23 for the game against Fiji we are all hoping that the game goes well and that he will rise from the bench in the second half to become the first CH boy to gain a full England cap ... unless anyone can correct me.......

Am I way off or did Geoff Hines (Lamb B), forward, get one England game in the 1960s??

Dear Rockfreak
You are not "way off".
Geoff did indeed have an England trial but sadly was never successful in gaining an England cap.
Much research was undertaken on the topic.
I was lucky enough to meet Geoff in Queensland during the 1994 rugby tour. Top man!

Re: WPC (Beaky) Davies - he was England's centre partnership with Jeff Butterfield if I remember. I think he was the beef in the sandwich (you'd have remembered that if you'd seen him) and the late Butterfield was the dummies and dodges. By the way, a question for you rugger ******* out there. When at school, if I'd put the ball into a set scrum the way they put it in now in internationals, the whistle would have gone every time. I can't remember the last time I saw one go in straight and sometimes it seems to disappear straight through the feet of the loose-head prop. Does anyone ever get a heel against the head these days? Have the rules changed?

I'm still waiting for a reply from you so-called rugby experts out there as to why the flaming ball never goes into the set scrum straight! Any Brian Moores out there with an astringent view on the subject??!!!