Cornish rugby has lost one of it’s most famous sons with Harold Stevens, who famously captained Cornwall in defeat to Warwickshire in the 1958 County Championship Final played at Coventry’s Coundon Road Ground, sadly passing away this week following a long illness.
He was considered by many to be one of the finest Cornish three-quarters ever to take the field.
His rugby career started with St. Ives and he was part of the fine “Hakes” side of the early fifties.
Being a teacher at Trewirgie School in Redruth it was inevitable that the Reds would come calling for his services.
An elusive runner, a superb kicker, tactician and fierce tackler, he played mostly at centre after joining Redruth from St. Ives in 1953, he played 350 games for the Reds and gained 60 Cornwall caps before returning to play for St. Ives in 1960.
He captained Redruth during the 1954-55 and 1955-56 seasons.
During the 1957-58 season not only did Stevens captain Cornwall to the County Final, which included a semi-final win over Lancashire at Redruth, he also played for the Possibles in an England Trial and was considered unlucky not to have been capped for England.
The Barbarians picked him for their Easter tour to Wales in 1959.
He also played for Cornwall & Devon against the All Blacks in 1953, the Wallabies in 1958 and the Springboks in 1960 in three different positions, wing, centre and full-back.
After the 1958 County Final he wrote a letter of thanks to the Cornwall rugby supporters for their support at Coventry which was published in the West Briton.
Trelawnys Army Supporters Club extends it’s sincerest condolences to family and friends. The funeral will take place in St.Ives at 2.30pm on Tuesday 15th July at Fore Street Chapel. Parking is at St.Ives RFC and a shuttle bus to the church has been arranged.
