REDRUTH RUGBY LAUNCH HALL OF FAME

Redruth Rugby launches its Hall of Fame on 25 & 26 March. 30 ‘Hall of Famers’ will be inducted at a ceremony in the Redruth Clubhouse on the evening of 25 March and all living Hall of Famers have been invited to a formal luncheon in the Club’s Hospitality Suite prior to the Redruth v Cinderford match on 26 March. Redruth’s Hall of Fame reads like a ‘who’s who’ of Cornish Rugby.

Asked what playing for the Reds meant to them, a number of the Redruth Rugby Hall of Famers responded as follows:

“Growing up in Redruth as a boy in the 1940s and early 1950s my great wish was to play for Redruth one day.” Richard Sharp, OBE (British Lions, England, Barbarians, Oxford University, Cornwall).

“Being born 250 yards from Hellfire Corner into a rugby family it was always the ultimate aim to play for the Reds first team. I was a ball boy at 6 and played for the Colts at 11. It was such an honour to make my first team debut. I was 16 and had played for the school in the morning and the Colts at Hayle at lunchtime. The first team were playing Hayle in the afternoon and the No 8 had not turned up. Terry Pryor said, ‘You’re playing’, and that was that!” Graham Still (Barbarians, Combined Services, England Colts, Cornwall).

“I always watched the Reds as a boy but never thought that I would be good enough to play for the team”, Ken Abrahams (England Trialist, Barbarians, Cornwall/Devon, Cornwall).

Paddy McGovan had England Trials and represented Combined Services, RAF, Cornwall/Devon & Cornwall. “It was an honour to have been involved in all the teams mentioned above but the greatest honour of all was to have been a playing member of Redruth RFC.”

“To play for Redruth in front of a large, passionate and very vocal crowd, gave me a huge sense of pride. Playing towards the famous Hellfire Corner, is there any greater feeling in club rugby? The friendships I have made at the club are also very special. As a player sitting down in the No 1 changing room where so many famous players had sat before me, where famous Redruth teams had got ready, putting on the Red shirt, going through the darkness of the tunnel., then running out to bright sunlight and the noise that greets the players was spine tingling. As a Cornishman playing for Redruth meant everything and I’ll cherish that forever.” Andy Hawken (Barbarians, 400 Reds appearances, 15 county caps, 5 as skipper.)

Full list of the Redruth Rugby Hall of Fame: William Grylls, Bert Solomon, Maffer Davey, William Rich, Fred Rule, Roy Jennings, Harry Faviell, Bill Phillips, Les Semmens, Keith Scott, Bill Bishop, Bonzo Johns, Richard Sharp, John Phillips, Derek Collins, Ken Abrahams, Paddy McGovan, Harold Stevens, Derek Prout, Terry Pryor, Graham Still, Tony Cook, Richard Keast, Alan Buzza, Colin Laity, Andy Hawken, Phil Vickery, Alifereti Doviverata, Rob Thirlby, Darren Jacques.

Tickets for the Redruth Rugby Hall of Fame Induction Evening and Buffet Supper on 25 March are available, price £10, from the Club’s General Manager, Gerry Reilly, on 07748 695971 or at geraldreilly31@btinternet.com

Posted in Bill's Blog

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