Attention: You are using an outdated browser, device or you do not have the latest version of JavaScript downloaded and so this website may not work as expected. Please download the latest software or switch device to avoid further issues.

News > Sporting Successes > ‘PROUD’ WILL COLLIER MAKES ENGLAND DEBUT

‘PROUD’ WILL COLLIER MAKES ENGLAND DEBUT

16 Jun 2017
Sporting Successes
Will Colliier's England Cap
Will Colliier's England Cap

Will Collier (East 2009) became the eighth Old Cranleighan to win a full England cap when he came on as a 62nd-minute substitute against Argentina on Saturday 10th June.

Tweeting a picture of his cap, he said: “Couldn’t be prouder to pick this up yesterday. Thanks for all the messages, one hell of a game!”

He is the first OC to pull on an England shirt since Jeff Clements (East 1951), who won the last of his three caps in 1959. Clements was also the last player to be called up when playing for an old boys side and the Twickenham programme for the Scotland match lists his club as Old Cranleighans.

Winger ‘Jake’ Jacobs was the first OC to be capped, turning out five times in all, and was an ever-present in Wavell Wakefield’s Grand Slam side in 1923-24. He scored a hat-trick of tries against France that season, the last Englishman to do that at Twickenham until 1980.

The hey-day for the OCs was in the 1930s when Alan Key, Maurice Bonaventura, Maurice McCanlis, Jeff Reynolds and Bob Carr all won caps, while Clive Wallis also turned out for Ireland.

Collier has overcome recent injury set-backs – he missed the second half of the 2015-16 with a knee injury and two months this season with a broken ankle – and England coach Eddie Jones has identified him as one of the players with the potential to break into his squad by the time of the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

“He’as got bits and pieces of his game he’s got to work at … he’s a young guy, he’s got a good body, he’s got a good attitude so he’s got a good head start so it’s quite exciting,” Jones said. “By the end of the tour I want him ahead of Dan Cole so Coley looks and says goodness me if I want to continue in the England team I have got to keep improving.

“I have seen enough and talked to enough players who have played with him or against him to know he is worth putting some time into.”

Similar stories

Derrick Carter-Clout (East, 1934-1938), died in the early hours of Monday March 27 2017. H More...

A record number of OCs (70) and their wives made up a total of 116 at the Over 70s’ Reun More...

Most read

OCS and Cranleigh Friends Carol Service 2024

The Old Cranleighan and Cranleigh friends Carol Service on Sunday was a truly special event. More...

With the support of his current employers (Oil Brokerage Ltd) Henry Taylor (Loveday 2012) is running trips to Poland with a charity called Ukrainian A… More...

John Cooke, 2 North 1949-1953

A listing of OCs who have sadly passed away in the last 2 years. More...

Have your say

 
This website is powered by
ToucanTech