Loughborough All-Stars XV
JEFF BUTTERFIELD:
Arrived at Loughborough Colleges from Whitcliff Mount GS and graduated with a BSc in Physical Education in 1951 after which he taught at Wellingborough GS.
Silky smooth centre who won 28 England caps and starred for the British and Irish Lions in South Africa in 1955.
Normally a centre but such a consummate performer that I am asking him to switch to full-back.
GERALD DAVIES:
One of Welsh rugby’s immortals, Davies arrived at Loughborough in 1963 from QEGS Carmarthen under the miners’ scholarship scheme. Cut a swathe immediately, appeared at centre as much as wing, while also proving virtually unstoppable as a Sevens player.
Moved on to Cambridge in 1966. Won 46 Wales caps, scoring 24 tries, and played in five Tests for the Lions, in 1968 and 1971.
CLIVE WOODWARD:
Studied for a Sports Science degree and stayed on to complete a PGCE. Captained the side during their stellar 1978-79 years when they lost just two games despite a strong fixture list and won the UAU title at Twickenham. Starred in England’s Grand Slam side in 1980 and a Lion in 1980 and 1983.
As a coach took England to one Grand Slam and two other Six Nations titles and, of course, the World Cup in 2003. Coached the Lions in 2005.
JOHN DAWES:
A chemistry graduate, John arrived at Loughborough 1963 to study for his PGCE and spent a formative year at the Colleges which culminated in winning his first Wales caps in 1964.
Remarkably not always a regular in the Wales team but captained them to a Grand Slam in 1971 and led the lions to victory in New Zealand in 1971.
Coached Wales to four Five Nations championships including two Grand Slams.
KEN JONES:
An international quality sprinter who ran a leg for GB at the 1948 Olympics when they won the silver medal, in fact it was originally gold but got downgraded to silver when the USA were reinstated.
Despite the missing war years won 44 Wales caps and scored 17 tries while he was also a star turn for the 1950 Lions in New Zealand.
BEV RISMAN:
Born in the Rugby League heartland of Salford where father Gus was something of a legend. Fly-half Bev produced some of his best rugby for Loughborough and made a huge impact, winning eight England caps over two years and appearing in all four Lions Tests in 1959 before he returned to his League roots with Leigh and then Leeds while there were five Test match appearances for Great Britain.
STEVE SMITH:
Classy scrum-half, Smith was a product of King’s Macclesfield and made a huge impact at Loughborough where there was a vintage intake around this time.
Starred in a North West counties win over the All Blacks in 1972 and was one of four Loughborough men in the England team that won the 1973 World Sevens.
Also played for the North when they beat New Zealand in 1979 and played a large role in England’s Grand Slam win in 1980, earning a place on Lions tour that year.
FRAN COTTON:
Cotton could prop both sides of the scrum and handle better than most backs. A reserve for the 1971 Lions tour, he toured South Africa in 1974 and 1980 and New Zealand in 1977.
Manged the victorious Lions squad of 1997. Won the World Cup Sevens with England in 1973, a cornerstone of the 1980 Grand Slam side and mover and shaker at Twickenham at the dawn of professionalism. Been there, got all the T-shirts.
JOHN GRAY:
Perhaps a controversial call ahead of Eric Evans and Aussie bad boy Peter Horton but Gray is a legendary Loughborough figure who broke all sorts of records in the gym.
Was going to be the England hooker for a generation but turned professional with Wigan, playing for Great Britain before he emigrated to Australia to play for North Sydney and Manly.
Round the corner goal kicker, Sevens star with England in 1973, first class cricketer with Warwickshire.
HARRY WILLIAMS:
One of the more recent graduates, Williams arrived at Loughborough from Whitgift School where he was a teammate of Marland Yarde and Elliott Daly.
Also played for Nottingham while at Uni before moving to the Jersey Reds. Very quickly Exeter moved in and before long Williams was starring in a championshipwinning Chiefs side. 17 England caps with more to come.
BEN KAY:
Obtained a Sports Science degree at Loughborough which was the launching pad for a phenomenally successful career in the second row which resulted in numerous Premiership and Heineken Cup titles with Leicester Tigers.
A World Cup winner with England in 2003 and ever-present during their 2007 campaign. Now brings his rugby intelligence to bear with BT Rugby.
ALUN PASK:
Fantastically versatile back five forward from Artillery, Pask graduated in 1960 with a degree in history and Physical Education. Went on to win 26 Wales caps between 1961-67, captaining them on six occasions.
Toured with the Lions in 1962 and 1966 and was the stand-out forward in beaten packs, winning eight caps. Retired aged just 29.
JOHN TAYLOR:
The Welshman from Watford GS earned a DCL in education at Loughborough where he was an outstanding flanker and one of the great Sevens specialists of the era. Won the first of 26 Wales caps in 1967 and was ever-present during the Lions Test series win over New Zealand in 1971.
Former Mail on Sunday rugby correspondent and ITV’s lead commentator for several World Cups.
JOHN MANTLE:
Athletic Welshman who could play anywhere in the back five of the pack, John graduated with a degree in PE in 1964.
He played briefly for Newport and Wales before turning professional and enjoying a prodigious Rugby League career which resulted in 13 Great Britain caps and eight for Wales.
During that time he won four Rugby League championships and three Challenge Cups.
ANDY ROBINSON:
Diminutive flanker who completed the classic sports science PGCE double while spearheading the University XV in 1985 and 1986, captaining the side in the final year.
Player of the tournament in the 1989 Five Nations, was a lynchpin in that great Bath side of the era and has coached England, Scotland and now Romania.