Dickie was top skipper

THERE are accolades for Dickie Jeeps, one of England rugby’s true greats, elsewhere in this edition, but for a measure of Jeeps as a scrum-half and captain few anecdotes surpass this one from Richard Sharp in Behind the Rose.

“Dick Jeeps’ first game as England captain (in 1960) was also my first cap, and we had only half-and-hour training together. Afterwards in the team meeting Dick said, ‘We’ve got two changes but they haven’t weakened our side at all. I have complete confidence in them.’ I’ve never forgotten that.” England beat Wales 14-6.