England caps

 

Richard,

 

Let me know if any could be in clubhouses that Sandal play this year / next and I'll get you photo's !

 

I'll even give you a lift if its one you really, really want to see !

 

Willy

 

 

Pocklington have the cap of Alf Kewney, who made 16 England appearances 1906-13 and was nicknamed 'Kicking Ginger' because of his fiery temperament. He was named at prop in Rugby World magazine's 'Team of the Millennium' in 2000.

Kewney won his first cap at Rockcliiff RFC in the north-east then 'transferred' to Leicester Tigers in 1908. Tigers were accused of giving financial inducements to Kewney and two other international signings but an RFU hearing, which was held on the same day of the England v Ireland game at Welford Road in 1909, exonerated Tigers and the players. The RFU President promptly resigned in protest at the verdict.

Kewney worked in the shipping industry and moved from Tyneside to East Yorkshire, becoming an early coaching advisor at Pocklington in the 1930s.

Not cap related, but had to respond to your memory about the late Billy Hardy and his Yorkshire Cup kicking exploits in the 80s - that game against Wakefield, who were the top side in the north at the time, included what I think might be a unique rugby feat.

One of Hardy's monster kicks from halfway hit the woodwork five times then came out! Incredibly it crashed into the right hand post, dropped down and bounced twice along the crossbar, bounced into the left hand post, then back onto the bar again and out. Never heard so many oohs, aahs and groans at a rugby ground. I think Wakefield won the first round game 18-12 and went on to win the Cup that year.

Thank you.