On the 11th February 2015, Harry Walker celebrated his 100th birthday making
him England’s oldest surviving rugby player. The winger turned tighthead prop
made his debut against Wales in 1947 in the then Five Nations where England
went on to win 9-6.
Walker would only ever play in the 1947 and 1948 Five Nations, and he even
rejected England’s offer for him to rejoin them four years later! He retired from
rugby in 1952 and became the second team coach at his beloved hometown club
Coventry. Even today, you can still find him in the Unipart Logistics stand of the club cheering them on.
Walker however does not hold a lot of love for the RFU he says that ‘“We had to
buy our own shorts. All they gave us was a jersey. They collected them back after
the game and if they did not have your number they went through your baggage
to find it. We all had jobs so it cost money to play for England as amateurs and all
the while they filled the stadium”.
Walker will be in attendance at the Calcutta Cup game against Scotland after
frantic calls to his son were made to persuade him to come. Walker in fact had
initially rejected the offer saying, “It is the first time I have been invited and I
refused. I didn’t like the tone of their letter. Wales players tell me every so often
the Welsh union get a few of their old boys up at an international match. They
look after them and fete them. With England it was nothing. It has always been
nothing.”
No matter how he feels toward the RFU, he is regarded as a legend by all rugby players, past and present.
Happy birthday Harry!
Happy Birthday Mr Walker. All the very best to you. Even if the RFU don’t appreciate your contribution to the game I’m sure all the players do.