Jonny: My Autobiography (63 page)

Players who appeared in the Test against the Australia Schoolboys are in bold below. (Replacements used in italic bold)

ENGLAND SCHOOLS (18 GROUP) TOUR PARTY TO AUSTRALIA 1997

Full-backs
I R Balshaw
(Stonyhurst College); L M Best (Durham School)

Threequarters
: P C Greenaway (Colston’s Collegiate);
M J Tindall
(QEGS Wakefield);
J P Wilkinson
(Lord Wandsworth);
M Walker
(Dinnington CS);
S C J Danielli
(Cheltenham College); S D Brading (Bedford School);
S Amor
(Hampton School); P D Christophers (RGS Lancaster)

Half-backs
:
J Lofthouse
(Sedbergh School) (
captain
);
D J R Smaje
(RGS High Wycombe); C D Hill (St Joseph’s, Ipswich);
J Grindal
(King Henry VIII, Coventry)

Forwards
:
D L Flatman
(Dulwich College);
A Hubbleday
(King Edward VI, Fiveways); L A Mears (Colston’s Collegiate); J Collins (West Buckland School); D A Giles (Kirkham GS);
J J Dawson
(Dulwich College);
J G Hynes
(King Edward VI, Fiveways); R Siveter (Colston’s Collegiate);
A J Sheridan
(Dulwich College);
S W Borthwick
(Hutton GS);
A W S Roques
(Sevenoaks School);
M McCarrick
(Sevenoaks School);
A J Beattie
(Hampton School);
A Sanderson
(Kirkham GS);
A L Balding
(Caludon Castle CS, Coventry); S Williams (Colston’s Collegiate);

Coach:
G Wappett
Captain:
J Lofthouse

Balshaw, Tindall, Christophers, Wilkinson, Flatman, Mears, Borthwick, Sanderson and Sheridan went on to win full senior England honours; Danielli did so for Scotland

Jonny was also a member of the England Schools (16 group) squad in 1995
.

Statistical section compiled by John Griffiths.

Playing for Farnham and looking a little bit too clean for my liking.

Showing some real gas at an early age, which soon disappeared.

This must be a break in play. I look as though I’m stuck.

The team. Farnham U13s.

Top: Lord Wandsworth U15s.

Middle: A very shy schoolboy meeting his rugby idol, Rob Andrew.

Bottom: Lord Wandsworth First XV. As they say, definitely up there with the best years of my life.

Fully padded up with a freshly cut flat top, and perfect technique.

The Officers Club XI, with Bilks as captain, Sparks bowling fast and my good friend Andy Holloway in there as well.

Right: This photo is a family favourite. Sparks looking after me in Bath.

Bottom left: Matching clothes, haircuts and Velcro shoes. The world was our oyster.

Bottom right: Sparks and I at Christmas. Sparks eyeing up my presents.

Right: Proudly receiving the PRA Player of the Year award, with Mum and Dad there to share the special moment.

Above: The Lions First Test. A great win, and a great feeling to be able to share the moment with Bilks.

Right: Mum, Dad and I … and an MBE. A real honour for me in every way.

Below: Mum and I and the great man, Inga Tuigamala, in New Zealand in 2005.

Warming up before coming on in another of my many comebacks.

Training and playing with my bro is always a pleasure. He has a great rugby brain and takes on much more than his share of the responsibility.