Eric Evans (rugby union, born 1921)

This article is about the English rugby union player. For the Wales rugby union player, see Eric Evans (rugby union, born 1894).

Eric Evans, MBE (1 February 1921 – 12 January 1991) was the captain of the England rugby union team from 1956 to 1958.

Eric Evans

Eric Evans
Date of birth	1 February 1921
Place of birth	Droylsden, Greater Manchester, England
Date of death	12 January 1991(1991-01-12) (aged 69)
School	Audenshaw Grammar School
Occupation(s)	Sports Teacher
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1935–1939 Old Aldwinians () 1945–1963 Sale () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1948–1958 England 30 Correct as of 28 December 2011

Early life

Evans was born on Edge Lane in Droylsden and attended Audenshaw Grammar School. He first played for Old Aldwinians RUFC in the late 1930s and during the war joined Sale RUFC. After the war he qualified as a sports master at the then Loughborough College, later joining Openshaw Technical College in Manchester.

England career

Evans was awarded his first England cap in 1948, becoming best known as a hooker. In 1956 he was named England captain at the age of 34, the oldest player to lead England, and in 1957 led his country to their first Grand Slam since 1928.

At the end of the 1957–8 season, he retired from international rugby, having been capped 30 times. Under his captaincy England won nine of their thirteen games.

Post international career

Evans continued to play for Sale after his international retirement, finishing his playing career with them in the 1962–3 season. He was chairman of Old Aldwinians RUFC from 1957 to 1959 and president from 1960 to 1966.

In 1967, Evans became the first president of the Glengarth Sevens at Davenport Rugby Club, a position that he held for 21 years.

Honours

On 15 June 1982, he received the Member of the Order of the British Empire from Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace. This award was for his career in Rugby Union Football and charitable work for the disabled at the Glengarth home for disabled children.