News & EventsLatest NewsCalendar
Throwback Thursday

Throwback Thursday

Richard Parker4 Feb 2016 - 12:00
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.colchesterrugby.co

Roger Rendall - Captain of Colchester and Suffolk 1983-84.

The caption beneath the pic reads 'A rare photo indeed as Roger is caught in the act of passing. It was of course a dummy, following which he handed off four opponents on the way to a Chinese takaway'.

It was a rare chance as in those days you'd struggle to afford a roll of film for 24 images which you'd make last for weeks. This was probably taken by Essex County Standard who used to attend the occasional home game.

Roger played centre for Bedford before being promoted to the forwards at Colchester. He ate constantly and at 19 stone was ahead of his time when it came to bulking up. Like with Ollie Pickett, passing was something other people did.

With a centre of gravity around his knees and a mean hand-off he was unstoppable from almost anywhere and, as your reporter at the time commented, usually had the ball 'clutched in one vast paw like a prolate spheroid Fay Wray.'

Oh that we could have such erudite reporting these days. (you're telling me, Ed).

Further reading