OUNDLE have been blessed with a notable list of coaches over the years – former Wales skipper Terry Cobner, England hooker John Olver, England full-back Simon Hodgkinson and England and Lions lock Danny Grewcock – but none have left a more indelible imprint than Frank Spragg.
Spragg was the Oxford fullback in the 1926 Varsity match and joined Oundle the following year as a Latin teacher, but within a couple of years, his true vocation revealed itself when he started a 33-year stint in charge of the First XV. A born coach.
Either side of World War 2 Oundle were a powerhouse in the school's game with defeats being notable occasions. And although not particularly a Sevens side – preferring to indulge in other sporting events in the Lent term – they reached three Rosslyn Park Sevens Finals in quick succession in 1942, 1945, and 1946.
To Spragg’s slight irritation Oundle managed to lose all three – against Bedford, Rugby, and Uppingham respectively – but the outstanding team of 1955, who had swept all aside on the fifteens circuit, managed to rectify the situation by finally completing the job with a 3-0 win over Taunton College.
Spragg’s reputation spread far and wide. In 1952 he played a large part in the production of the original RFU coaching manual while he became something of a radio celebrity as the guest coaching expert on the Tackling Rugby programme – hosted by Rex Alston – that appeared on the old BBC Home Service. When he stepped down he took to writing on the game for the Observer and then became both the school's rugby and cricket correspondent for the Daily Telegraph.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 25, 2021 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 25, 2021 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Army leave it late to regain trophy
MOMENTS and minutes change matches in equal measure, and that is exactly what happened at Kingsholm as the British Army’s men regained the Inter Service Championship trophy.
Blues hold on in battle at the top
BLUES held on with their backs to their try line as they edged past the Hurricanes 31-27 to leapfrog their Kiwi rivals and move top of the table.
Harrison leads from front to seal it for Saracens
SARACENS returned to Allianz PWR action with a bonus-point win at StoneX Stadium.
Coventry denied by powerful Pirates
SHEER pack power delivered two classic late rolling maul tries as Pirates maintained their quest for a second place Championship finish.
Davies the leading light in Welsh quartet
FOUR international flyhalves took flight from Wales last year, understandably so given the alternative of staying put on contracts shredded by the rugby recession.
Rugby's holy trinity prove the difference
SINCE time immemorial, rugby has been cloaked in its own cliches: Prince Obolensky was always “dashing”; Colin Meads lived his life as an “unsmiling giant”; Martin Johnson was rarely anything other than “beetle-browed”; and Billy Vunipola, easier to stop with an elephant gun than he is with a Taser according to recent evidence from a late-night bar in Mallorca, will forever be known as “the man who shamed the shirt he wasn’t wearing”.
Tbilisi win was key - Skivington
GEORGE Skivington has credited the European Challenge Cup win against Black Lion in Tbilisi as the moment Gloucester turned their season around.
Scarlets pay price for lack of discipline
ULSTER gave their URC play-off hopes a major boost as they capitalised on indiscipline from the hosts to secure maximum points in Llanelli.
James at his best as Sale keep in the race
SAM James might be departing for pastures new but Sale’s Mr Dependable produced a nigh on immaculate performance at full-back as they continue to battle for a play-off place.
Russell masterclass has Bath in top gear
FINN Russell scored eight points, pulled the strings for three of Bath’s tries and barely put a foot wrong in a classy display that will send shivers down the spine of their Premiership title rivals.