Heartfelt tributes paid to The Judge

PAUL Rendall, known as “The Judge”, is one of the game’s great characters and props, and on Thursday the Wasps Legends organised a lunch in central London to honour his contribution to Wasps, and to England.

It followed the news that Rendall, who won 28 England caps from 1984 to 1991, had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, and the tribute to the formidable loosehead from a packed house was heartfelt and moving.

It was also full of humorous anecdotes that spoke of the deep affection for The Judge, who was able to watch and interact with the event online. With the quick-witted Martin Bayfield as host/ raconteur, ably assisted by Wasps Legends’ Peter Scrivener, there was a lively audience with Judge’s former Wasps and England teammates, Rob Andrew, Huw Davies, Jeff Probyn and Dean Ryan sharing their memories.

Rendall joined Wasps from Slough in 1975, and helped the club to win a landmark first English league title in 1990. By that time he was also well established as The Judge who presided over kangaroo-court tour sessions.

This prompted a story about a young Jason Leonard – who was Rendall’s England understudy – becoming so curious about team nicknames that he turned to his fellow prop and asked, “So, Judgie, what’s your nickname?”

A further tribute was paid by Phil Keith-Roach, the England 2003 scrum coach, who played hooker alongside The Judge for Middlesex. “Rendall was an immovable, stable, consistent loosehead with great technique, and a ‘salt of the earth’ man much liked by everybody. I have huge respect for him.”

After the lunch Paul Rendall posted this message: “Just wanted to say a massive thank you… I watched all day and partied from home with you – Judge”.

The privilege was all