Fearless Leahy, the ferocious tackler who went on to lead Tesco’s surge
LIKE many grammar schools of the era, the St Edward’s XV of the mid70s was an eclectic mix of many talents. It contained a future Irish ambassador to the UN in Declan Kelleher, a future world president of Morgan Stanley in his brother Colm, renowned satirical cartoonist Fran (Orford), a splattering of eminent surgeons and lawyers and the much sought-after session musician Mark Flannagan who has also been Jools Holland’s lead guitarist for two decades.
And then there was the tearaway flanker and tackling machine who went on to transform Tesco’s into the biggest supermarket chain on the planet.
Sir Terence Leahy – Terry to all his old teammates – is best known as a titan of British industry but as a schoolboy he was a livewire flanker who represented Liverpool and Lancashire schools and played first team rugby for Liverpool while still at the school before injury brought an abrupt end to his career.
Repeated concussions and shoulder dislocations, mainly as a result of his fearless tackling, alas took their toll.
He was quick as well and headed up the St Edward’s team that look set to win the 1974 Rosslyn Park Sevens before they tripped up in the semifinals against Reigate GS, a team they often seemed to be drawn against.
Leahy, playing as a fast, tough non-sidestepping wing on that occasion, had starred in their quarter-final victory over favourites Neath College and he had opened up against Reigate with a blistering try but Reigate suddenly started to monopolise possession. The game went into extra time at 4-4 – but Reigate struck first to make the final.
It was virtually the last hurrah for Leahy as a rugby player. He was forced to ‘retire’ soon after and never got to play at University.
Leahy recalls: “Looking back now – 45 years on – the schoolmasters at St Edward’s were pretty switched on regarding head injuries, one of the big current debates in the game.
“They were very cautious after head knocks, there was no rushing me back, no pressure and I am very thankful for that.
“It was disappointing having to stop playing but I have nothing but fond memories of the team and the coaches – I particularly remember Rod Irving and Dai Edwards. Rod was also coaching the Livertowards
pool club at the time and they were a top team. He brought a cutting edge to our training. We trained hard but I don’t recall overdoing it at the expense of studies. We did train smart though... I started off as a full-back where I was rubbish but found my feet when they moved me to flanker. Tackling and running were my strengths.
“We were strong academically as well at St Edward’s but the thing about studying is that it’s ultimately pretty solitary, you against the exam.
“With a great team game like rugby it’s about cooperation and teamwork and the teamwork at St Edward’s was pretty special. In rugby you can achieve nothing on your own. It’s never just down to you. The parallels with industry are pretty obvious and important.
“I guess we were a pretty typical city grammar school of the time – a mix of fee-paying and scholarship students who had won a place there through the 11+. Full of talented, ambitious lads wanting to make the most of their big chance. I’m not remotely surprised so many went on to achieve fine things.
“As a team what gave us an edge at the time was the Widnes and St Helens contingent from Rugby League land – the likes of Ged Glynn, Ian Naughton and Pete Shaw. Their rugby intelligence and skill at that age was another level and very hard to counter.”
So how good was Leahy? He’s much too modest to answer that so I directed my question instead to his former skipper Glynn, the future Orrell, Sale and England B fly-half.
“Put it this way, Terry did the tackling of two or three men and I was very thankful indeed he was on my side and not the opposition. He was a brilliant schoolboy flanker. I have no doubt he would have enjoyed a long senior club career with Liverpool and probably Lancashire as well had injury not struck.”