Daily Mail Rugby Schools Cup 1988: a Retrospective

On Saturday 9 April 1988, played on Twickenham’s hallowed turf, RGS Guildford U15s were crowned the first ever winners of the Daily Mail Rugby Schools Cup. This was the first national competition for U15s rugby and the RGS blazed a trail from an entry of 32 schools, all nominated by their counties, culminating in a David and Goliath final being pitted against the favourites, Wellington College.

This is a retrospective of the game and a testament to the team.

THE PLAYERS 15. Full-back Avron SPIER 14. L. Wing Matthew JOLLEY 13. L. Centre Lance McCARTHY 12. R. Centre Winta JARVIS 11. R. Wing Neil KENT 10. Outside half James WYDENBACH (C) 9. Scrum half Peter SMITH 1. L. Prop Matthew JOB 2. Hooker SB 3. R.Prop Simon NORDON 4. Lock Ben STANSFIELD 5. Lock Matthew RIDDIFORD 6. Flanker Edward JARVIS 7. Flanker Russell HILL 8. No. 8 Gerard JACKSON

Reserves 16. Stuart BUTLER 17. Matthew BURNHAM 18. Peter SPARK 19. Simon THORP 20. Alastair BADMAN 21. Stuart McCLYMONT

Round 1: RGS v London Oratory School 9-6

Round 2: RGS v St Josephs 14-6

Quarter-final: RGS v Richard Hale 23-0

Semi-final: RGS v Rossall School 8-4

Final: RGS v Wellington College 12-0

The semi-final at the Stoop, Harlequins’ ground next to Twickenham, was a hard-fought match which saw the RGS go through to the final against Wellington College. The powerful RGS pack who had dominated against Richard Hale once again proved too much for the opposition and an outstanding team effort led to a 12-0 victory. Neil Kent scored the first try of the final, set up by Matt Jolley on the wing. Captain James Wydenbach scored the second try and both were converted by Gez Jackson who took over goal kicking from injured Lance McCarthy. “It was the first year of the competition and was a new experience for everyone, including the sponsors. Because all the teams involved were selected as the best from their county it meant that they were really tested throughout.

I thought that our first match against London Oratory was really on a knife edge throughout as James Wydenbach’s team was not at its best and it required a last-minute penalty from Lance McCarthy to get us through.

From then on, the players got better and better and the defensive performances improved to meet the higher standards required. The semi-final against a fine Rossall School team (under a coach involved in the senior County rugby) was extremely tight and the boys held their nerve and produced a great team performance.

In the final Wellington College were the hot favourites, strongly tipped by the Daily Mail’s chief rugby writer, and were an excellent side, with some dangerous backs. To beat them required an outstanding performance from our forwards and tremendous defence from every single member of the team.

Peter Spark, who was one of the replacements, had his grandfather (who had travelled down from Scotland) in the stand in the hope of seeing him play on the famous Twickenham pitch. An unfortunate injury to Lance McCarthy provided an opportunity for me to give Peter Spark, a fine player in his own right, the chance to grant his grandfather his wish.

The win was a due reward for the efforts of the whole squad and was helped by the wise assistance of Bob Griffiths, a former centre for Coventry RFC in their great years and England Trialist, who was at the RGS on an exchange year. David Wydenbach, James’s father persuaded the Daily Mail to help fund a version of the Trophy, which is still on display in Bradstone Brook pavilion.”

Chris Pafford Former Geography teacher and Head of Beckingham (1978 – 2001), and former Head Coach RGS U15 rugby, now retired and living in Dorset.

GETTING PREPARED

“I feel we didn’t rely on any particular super-star players, but our teamwork was second to none.

Our U15 1988 triumph at Twickenham is among my happiest memories.

Chris Pafford was an outstanding coach, and I was there at Twickenham that day; wild horses would not have kept me away. I remember standing on the touchline at about half time wondering whether we, the underdogs, could possibly pull it off, when dear Pat Harris of fond memory, having sympathetically observed my agitation, quietly went to the bar and returned with a large Scotch which she pressed into my shaking hand.

It was a life-saver indeed.”

John Daniel RGS Headmaster 1972-1992 “The weather was thoroughly miserable; very wet and cold; especially in the first round against London Oratory which we just scraped through and didn’t play that well.

There was an ITV interview with me and Russell Hill straight after our semi-final win against Rossall School whilst we were still on the pitch ... for which I have been continually ribbed about by my younger brother on at least an annual basis ever since! We went back to where we were staying and watched the ITV coverage of the game together as a team which was lovely.

About halfway through the final at Twickenham I cracked a rib tackling someone and was substituted for the rest of the match. When I was on the trainer’s couch in the changing room being examined, Wade Dooley (who was playing in the county championship final which followed our game), came in and towering over me, rubbed my head and said ‘are you alright mate?’ I was so awestruck that I can’t remember responding, just nodding my head! By the time I was off the couch and strapped up and in the stands to watch the rest of the match we were in the lead and held on to win.

I have great memories of the tournament and of that team. We only lost a handful of matches in the 4 years up to this point. There were some excellent players indeed, particularly EJ, Russell, Pete and James.”

Lance McCarthy OG 1991

Chris Pafford Coach After I retired I was a selector for age-group teams for Dorset & Wilshire RFU for several years. Now I concentrate on researching family histories and am the family history consultant for Weymouth Museum (which has kept me busy during lockdown).

Matthew Riddiford 5. Lock I’m now living in London, married with two kids running my own finance firm. Rugby playing days are long behind me but I am a coach for my son’s U10 team at Barnes RFC. I’m Godfather to Georgina McClymont and Edward Jolley but I don’t see enough of their fathers.

Avi Spier 15. Full-back Read Biology at Oxford (Ch. Ch.) followed by a PhD in Molecular Neuroscience at Cambridge (Caius).

Became a postdoctoral researcher at Scripps in San Diego. Founded and led Allon Therapeutics to develop therapies for neurodegeneration, currently serves as Executive Director of Business Development for Novartis, based in Boston. Lance McCarthy 13. Left centre I went to Nottingham University getting a BA in Economics and went in to hospital management in the NHS. I became CEO at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Cambridgeshire and for the last 4 years the CEO at The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow. I live in West London, am married to

Sonia and have 2 sport obsessed boys. I played rugby and cricket for just a few years after leaving school before taking up running and completing the London Marathon in 2016.

Matthew Jolley 14. Left wing After University and Law School, I qualified as a lawyer at City firm Linklaters. I joined the Law Commission for England and Wales in 2003 where I am now Head of Legal. I live in Farnham with my wife, Beth and two children, Thomas (16) and Edward (14). James Wydenbach 10. Outside half (Captain) I went on to play for Swansea RFC, the Steele-Bodgers invitation XV and Richmond RFC but this day remains one of my fondest memories in rugby due to the determination, spirit and selflessness of my teammates and the sheer joy of playing together. I’m sure the team will agree that we are indebted to Mr Pafford for his shrewd and caring leadership throughout that season that enabled us to achieve a hard-won victory against the odds and on the biggest of stages – of which we can all be proud.

Currently Head of Treasury Services and Reporting Technology, Barclays, Northampton.

Gerard Jackson 8. Flanker After a Geography degree and time down under, I got the public service bug and now have 27 years policing experience mostly in the Intelligence world, previously in Hertfordshire and now Northamptonshire. Youngest daughter is also a serving officer.

Sadly no more rugby but golf does fill the off duty time!

RGS U15A vs Brighton College

Sport is still a central part of School life and we aim to provide as diverse a range of sporting opportunities as possible, including fencing, judo, sailing, shooting and skiing.

Current Head of Rugby, Ben Dudley, comments: “Rugby is the major sport at the RGS in the Michaelmas term. Each Saturday 20+ sides compete in a fixture card against some of the best schools in SE England.

RGS compete in the NatWest Schools U15 competition and last year reached the quarter finals and have reached the last 16 in the Champions Trophy three years in a row. As well as winning the inaugural Daily Mail U15s Cup in 1988, the RGS U18s reached the final in the 1992-1993 season.”