It is with deep sadness that we record the passing of Richard Sharp OBE, the former England and British & Irish Lions fly-half whose fine sporting talent was matched by a quiet dignity and unwavering sportsmanship. He died on 3 November 2025 at the age of 87.
Born on 9 September 1938 in Bangalore, India, to a mining engineer father educated at the Camborne School of Mines and a mother born in Redruth, Cornwall, Richard’s early life was rooted in the South West. After the family moved to England, he was educated at Montpelier School and then at Blundell’s School in Devon, before reading at Balliol College Oxford, where he won three rugby Blues between 1958 and 1961.
From his Cornwall heritage he developed a lifelong loyalty to his home county’s sporting life, both in rugby and cricket.
Richard began his club career with Redruth RFC in Cornwall, representing the club and his county with commitment and flair. At county level he played 28 times for Cornwall between 1957 and 1966. He also played for Wasps and Bristol as well as the famed Barbarians RFC.
Internationally, he earned 14 caps for England between 1960 and 1967, and captained the side, most notably leading England to the 1963 Five Nations title. In 1962 he was selected for the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa, playing in two Test matches.
His style on the field was celebrated for its elegance and precision — one contemporary described him as “probably the most elegant fly-half England ever had”.
Richard also made his mark in cricket representing Cornwall County Cricket Club in the Minor Counties Championship between 1957 and 1970, qualifying as an all-round sportsman of the Duchy.
Across his many roles—clubman, county stalwart, international captain—Richard Sharp was widely admired for the manner in which he carried himself. His conduct both on and off the field was marked by humility, fairness and respect for opponents. Many in Cornwall still recall not only his brilliance at fly‐half, but his generosity of spirit, his willingness to mentor younger players, and his steadfast loyalty to his roots. He was awarded an O.B.E. in 1986.
Though the records seldom quantify such attributes, those who encountered him remember him as a gentleman in every sense of the word.
Richard will be remembered not simply for the tries scored, the caps won or the tours undertaken—but for the person he was: quietly assured, respectfully modest, unwavering in his support for Cornwall and his sporting communities.
His passing will be mourned by his family, his many friends in Cornish and English sport, and all who valued not only his athletic talents but his character.
Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and to the communities—rugby, cricket, Cornwall—that he enriched so deeply.
The Cornish rugby world came together to commemorate the memory of John Sumnall following the sad news of the passing of the former CRFU President. John was a true champion of the community game who embodied the traditional values of rugby. He would no doubt have approved of the minute silence in his honour before the kick-off impeccably observed by the players and a large crowd at Tregorrick. John was also an inherently modest and humble man who would have been embarrassed by the fuss being made and flushed at the many glowing tributes recollecting his immense contributions to the game. One thing is for sure; he would have been delighted at the match that followed – a fiercely competitive contest between two young sides determined to run the ball at every opportunity.
Despite being drawn from ten different Clubs the Cornwall squad quickly clicked into gear to put the Navy under pressure from the start. The high tempo was stretching the Navy to the edges, but it was the powerful forward surges that delivered the first points. Hooker Pete Harris finished a lineout maul that moved almost 20m at a rate of knots. Number Eight Finn Wolstencroft repeated the routine in the opposite corner, and the pack soon added another with flanker Hector Bright dotting down under a pile of bodies. Archie Bees added the conversion, and this was quickly followed by a penalty try to make it 24-0 after a ruthless opening quarter from Cornwall.
The Navy finally enjoyed some good possession on in dangerous areas but found the Cornish as adept in defence as they had been in attack. Another surge up field instigated by full back Archie Bees laid the foundations for a fifth Cornish try of the half with Finn Wolstencroft going over for his second of the evening. Pete Harris completed his brace and the final score of the half to make it 36-0 at the interval.
It was a rejuvenated Navy side that came out for the second period to show great heart and determination to stem the tide of Cornish scores. They dominated the third quarter to score two tries and one conversion to get themselves on the scoreboard.
Both benches were now being emptied which broke the flow of the game as the changes took time to settle. Cornwall were being forced to defend for prolonged periods but did enough to prevent the Navy from adding to their two tries. As the game entered the final ten minutes the Cornish team regained their earlier high tempo with the forwards providing quick ball for live wire scrum half Will Tanswell to spin out to an eager backline. With a penalty advantage being played, an astute cross field kick found winger Ollie Bebbington out wide who finished superbly in Apples Corner.
There was still time for Finn Wolstencroft to complete his hattrick from a catch and drive in the same area. Ben Rosevear converted both tries to make the final score 50-12 to complete a great win for Cornwall and a good workout for the Navy ahead of their Inter-Services tournament. Above all else the match and the occasion was a fantastic tribute to former CRFU President John Sumnall.
The Tribute Player of the Match was Finn Wolstencroft selected by Vice Admiral Andy Burns. The hat-trick hero was pushed hard for the accolade by strong running prop Olly Derry, scrum half Will Tanswell who kept the Cornish team ticking, and hooker Pete Harris who was a constant thorn in the Navy side.
Cornwall President’s XV: Archie Bees (St. Austell), Rhys Williams (Exeter Uni & Helston), Jamie Stanlake (St. Austell), Harris Eddy (Penzance & Newlyn), Ollie Bebbington (Launceston), Oscar Marr (Penzance & Newlyn), Will Tanswell (Camborne); Declan Prowse (Penzance & Newlyn), Pete Harris (St. Austell), Olly Derry (Wadebridge Camels), Charlie Knight (Saltash), Mark Vian (St. Austell, Capt), Hector Bright (St. Austell), Will Symons (Wadebridge Camels), Finn Wolstencroft (Redruth).
Replacements: Rob Walsh (Saltash), Cam Leigh (Redruth), Rohan Ewels (Redruth), Will Perkin (St. Ives), Charlie Tumon (Launceston), Ben Rosevear (Helston), Jack Sander (Wadebridge Camels), Ben Wragg (Penzance & Newlyn).
A Cornwall President’s XV will play the Royal Navy Under 23s under the lights at Tregorrick Park St. Austell on Wednesday 29th October, kick-off 7:30 pm.
Trelawny’s Army AGM was held on Tuesday 16th September at the St. Austell Brewery Visitor Centre.
Following a welcome to One & All by our President Sean Jarvis the formal part of the evening took place.
TASC can report a successful year with our tradestand raising funds to be ploughed back into Cornish rugby.
CRFU Chair Steve Murley receives £600 cheque from Marina Trevarton in respect of Colts rugby finals
Once again we donated a cheque for £600 to the CRFU for Colts Final Days rugby as well as a donation of rugby balls. This was accepted by Steve Murley, Chair of the CRFU.
Steve also gave a brief outline to members about the CRFU’s principle priorities for the season ahead.
Marina Trevarton presents Shirley Floyd with her bouquet
Presentations were made to Shirley Floyd, how many cakes has she baked for TASC? Always the most sought after rafle prize!
The Player Awards were then made;
Bill Osborne Memorial Shield, Cornwall Senior Player of the Year to Tom Cowan Dickie of Redruth RFC
Tony Mead Memorial Shield, Cornwall Under 20 Player of the Year to Dan Bennett of St. Austell RFC
Jessie Humber Shield, Cornwall Women’s Player of the Year to Amy Bunt of Ivybridge RFC.
Karen Bunt presents Tom Cowan Dickie with the Bill Osborne Memorial ShieldChairman Phil Trevarton presents Dan Bennett with the Tony Mead Memorial ShieldBarbara Hocking presents Amy Bunt with the Jessie Humber Shield along with Cornwall Women’s Team Manager Dave Saunter
Congratulations to all our award winners who also received a case of Tribute Ales courtesey of St. Austell Brewery.
To end the meeting Trelawny was sung and pasties consumed.
Many thanks again to Sean Jarvis and St. Austell Brewery for hosting us and providing the refreshments, it is much appreciated.
It is with great sadness that TASC were informed of the passing of our former Honorary Secretary Roger Watson. Our thoughts and prayers are with Nikki and the family at this sad time.
Roger was a founder member of TASC and appointed Honorary Secretary at it’s first meeting in 1993.
He helped steer the club through difficult waters with the CRFU following the founding of the club, eventually smoothing the troubled waters and gaining acceptance of TASC.
When he stepped down from his role when he took on the Honorary Secretary role at Redruth RFC he was made a Life Member of TASC. In 2015 he was appointed Honorary Secretary of Cornwall RFU a post he held until 2018.
The following from the Redruth RFC website gives some detaio of the various roles he held in the game.
Roger held many roles in his service to the game. Roger was the first Honorary Secretary of Trelawny’s Army Supporters Club and in 1994 Honorary Secretary of Cornwall Schools (16 Group) and sat on the CRFU Committee. From 2001 to 2014 Roger was the Honorary Secretary to Redruth RFC and travelled the length and breadth of the country in support of the Reds. In recognition of his service to the club, Roger was awarded Life Membership. In 2015 Roger became Honorary Secretary to the CRFU and held this position until 2018 whilst also holding the position of Secretary to Cornwall’s Disciplinary Committee. Soon after Roger and Nikki, along with their son Rawlyn moved to the Rhymney Valley in South Wales to be closer to their daughter Esyld and young Granddaughter Isla. Roger continued to love the game and was still attending matches locally last season.
Membership Secretary Karen Bunt was on-hand to present Cornwall Women’s No.8 Michaella Roberts with her player of the match memento on behalf of TASC at Polson Bridge on Sunday.
Devon kicked off towards the Devon end and immediately put Cornwall under pressure.
Cornwall defended well but gave away too many penalties, eventually the Devon pressure told when the ball was worked wide to wing Charleigh Hopkin to dot down.
Having missed the conversion Devon’s Beth Plumpton kicked a routine penalty from in front of the posts to stretch their lead.
Cornwall needed to get into the game, Abi Smith sounded the charge with a good run, the first of many. Cornwall kicked a penalty to the corner from which scrum-half Amy Warman fed Michaella Roberts, the No.8 used her strength to power over for a try bettered by Georgia Hall.
Roberts was again involved when Cornwall took the lead, she linked with Smith who’s pass found Bunt who scored an unconverted try in the corner.
Smith then showed her defensive qualities with a crunching tackle on a Devon player that left her square on her back!
The threat from Devon on the wings was still there and when the ball reached Issy Edworthy the Okehampton wing showed her speed to outpace the cover and score under the sticks allowing Plumpton a simple conversion.
Despite losing No.8 Megan Heath to a yellow card Devon scored again before half-time through the impressive Edworthy, Plumpton’s extras giving the visitors a 22-12 lead at half-time.
The break allowed the Cornwall Women’s team from 1994 to parade around the ground, players that Cornwall head coach Jo Holden described as “true pioneers who laid the foundations for what we have now.”
Cornwall came out for the second half in determined mood. An early try-scoring chance just failed to go to hand with line beckoning.
The Cornish forwards through Roberts, Kim Upcott and Izzy Burrows were making ground.
A quick tap penalty from Warman near the Devon line led to Meg Okey charging over near the posts allowing Hall the conversion.
Just as Cornwall had Devon in their sights a moment of lapse concentration allowed Edworthy to escape the clutches to score her third try.
With both sides turning to their respective benches, it was Cornwall who finished the stronger. Leading by example Bunt shrugged off a tackle to score in the corner to bring Cornwall to within three points.
Devon then lost Plumpton to a yellow card as Cornwall now pressed hard.
The winning score came from another quick tap penalty from Warman who found Smith who scored near the posts, Hall’s conversion completed the scoring as Cornwall saw out the game.
Speaking after the match head coach Jo Holden said. “They put everything out there today I am so proud of each and every one of them.
“Winning the Tamar Cup is a huge milestone for us as we strive to improve each season, this is a very good Devon side we beat today. I can’t wait for next season and where it can take us as a group.”
Cornwall Women (Launceston unless mentioned): Amy Bunt (Ivybridge, Capt), Tia Larson (Bude), Abigail Smith, Georgia Hall (Penryn), Lisa Allin (Bude), Meg Okey (Ivybridge), Amy Warman; Libbie Cole, Teigan Aitkin (Penryn), Kim Upcott, Megan Arnold, Rhiannon Thomas, Rosie Ninnis (Penryn), Izzy Burrows (Truro), Michaella Roberts (Ivybridge).
Cornwall travelled to Havant looking to finish their programme on a high following the defeat to Kent last Saturday.
In the event both sides looked to serve up some running rugby to royally entertain the crowd. Cornwall’s second half performance saw them build up a good lead and see off a late Hampshire revival.
It was the homeside who scored first, a cross-field kick from fly-half Lewis Dennett found wing Jack Phillips who crossed in the corner.
Cornwall eventually responded when Matt Shepherd made a good break feeding wing Harry Larkins for an unconverted try.
Cornwall were falling foul of the referee as the penalty count against them mounted, it was no surprise that Hampshire re-took the lead when prop Dan Sargent crashed over.
Shepherd was again involved in Pat Walton’s try and this time he added the extras. Good play from Shepherd and Jordan Nicholls set up Jack Counter for Cornwall’s third try.
Nicholls was constantly looking to jackal the ball at the breakdown.
Hampshire levelled the scores before the break when Phillips bagged his second try which was bettered by Dennett.
Hampshire made the better start to the second half, a good run from wing Jack Colbourne led to a Hampshire penalty from which hooker Cam Boa scored.
Cornwall now began to get the upper-hand. Tom Cowan-Dickie took a quick tap from 5 meters out which led to a Dan Rutter try under the posts, with Shepherd adding the conversion.
Rutter then kicked a fine 50/22 which set up Shepherd for a try that he bettered. It was then the turn of Ben Hancock to get on the scoresheet with Shepherd’s conversion Cornwall led 38-22.
Luke Barnes thought he had scored but the referee ruled it out. Shepherd added a penalty as Hampshire scored two late tries through Phillips and Sargent, but Cornwall had enough in hand to see out the game.
Cornwall: Matt Shepherd (St. Austell, Capt), Harry Larkins (Camborne), Ben Plummer (St. Austell), Sam James (Redruth), Jack Counter (Wadebridge C), Dan Rutter (Redruth), CJ Boyce (Camborne); Luke Barnes, Tom Cowan-Dickie (both Redruth), Sam Rodman (Camborne), Dan Goldsmith (Launceston), Pat Walton (Barnes), Adam Hughes, Jordan Nicholls (both Camborne), Hugo Culverhouse (Tonbridge J).
Replacements: Pete Harris, Matt Boothby (both St. Austell), Rohan Ewels (Falmouth), Ben Hancock (Bude), Brandon Rowley (Launceston), Adam Powell (St. Austell), Will Hennessy (Camborne), Archie Bees (St. Austell).
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