Such a poignant glimpse of England’s lost talent

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful What’s happening here?

Its October 15, 2006 and a sunny autumnal afternoon and two of England’s brightest young sparks are going head to head at Adams Park where Wasps are entertaining Newcastle Falcons in their Premiership encounter.

What is the story behind the picture?

Two young tyros making their way. Mathew Tait in this picture is still only 20 and the memories of his tough Test debut at the age of 18 in 2005 against Wales were still playing on people’s minds after Gavin Henson manhandled him down at the Millennium Stadium.

I would point out in passing that in one of those two big hits he copped from Gavin Henson he still laid the ball back in perfect textbook fashion.

Tait dusted himself off the following season and stunned the rugby world at the Commonwealth Games Sevens in Melbourne in 2006 when he outshone every Kiwi, Fijian and Bok on view with his breath-taking attacking skills.

He was a major talent although England, as ever, were a little suspicious. They needed convincing. He played in both summer internationals against Australia in 2006 but the jury was still out.

Tom Rees is also hungry as hell. Trying to break into the England back row was no easy matter with the likes of Lawrence Dallaglio, Joe Worsley, Lewis Moody, Martin Corry and others around but he’s rising up the ladder very quickly. He was learning his trade in a formidable and streetwise Wasps back row and the rugby world was his oyster.

What happened next?

Well, from what I remember and looking at match footage anew, I reckon this is the moment Rees managed to escape Tait’s clasp, just before half-time, and score one of Wasps five tries in the game. Tait meanwhile had grabbed a fine try in an early Falcons flurry, but Wasps eventually recovered to win 35-15.

As for their Test careers it was Tait who played against South Africa in the autumn and both were ever present in the 2007 Six Nations. Both seemed embedded in the England team but at RWC2007 Rees fell out of favour after a poor England performance against

USA and a big pool defeat against South Africa. Tait, meanwhile, grew in confidence, was ever present throughout the tournament, and took a starring role in defeat in the final against the Boks.

Why is this picture iconic?

This picture works on two levels for me, one slightly frivolous, one rather poignant. Combine the two and it’s a powerful image.

At the base level it’s two brilliant young players having fun in the sun. This is a cliched scene played out at every level around the rugby world from mini rugby to veterans.

Player in possession, sprinting for the line but looking over his shoulder as scrambling defenders try to cover across and make the tackle. Catch me if you can. Can the defender make a last ditch tackle?

What happened next?

In that sense this picture is dynamic and never ending. Viewed in isolation, without knowledge of the outcome, there is no resolution. We can imagine any scenario which takes our fancy.

But there is also an undeniable poignancy to this picture for anybody who knows their rugby.

Rees and Tait were possibly the two most glittering England age group players I have ever reported on or watched from the stand.

They were stellar talents, and both had abilities that would clearly translate to the Test arena. They were also grounded, modest, great blokes and although I am not one who believes sportsmen have any requirement to be role models, these two were natural ambassadors for the English game.

But sport always dictates its own narrative. Things rarely play out as expected. For Rees – by common consent England’s captain in waiting from his late teens – it was a long fight against various injuries which chipped away at his natural athleticism until eventually he had to call it a day in 2012, four years after his last England appearance.

Even as the knees in particular began to groan he still managed a Heineken Cup trophy with Wasps in 2007 and a Premiership title the following year but there was so much more to come from Rees surely.

As for Tait, he suffered the outrageous slings of fortune more than most, while he picked up big injuries at crucial times. He also endured a hard time convincing England coaches of his talent and which was his best position. An England career of 36 caps should never be discounted yet he was only 24 when he played his last Test in 2010. Ironically he was ignored in the second half of his career when playing some of his best rugby in a slightly faltering Leicester Tigers team.

Footnote. Rees became a medical student after retiring and after qualifying at Imperial College – where he played his last game of competitive rugby – he started working in A and E at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital.