Memory of Rugby Legend Lives On

The Steve Prescott Foundation recently returned from a unique piece of rugby history when they played out a game on top of Mt Kilimanjaro. David Matthews repeats a piece from twelve months ago which paid tribute to Steve and two other all time greats.

As November 2013 drew to a close, three all time Rugby legends featured so prominently in the news as to place the game itself in true perspective: Steve Prescott, Joost van der Westhuizen and Jonah Lomu.  For once the only refereeing connection I can attach to this piece is with former Rugby League international Steve Prescott who, after a long illness, died early in the month; in the late 1980’s I taught him for several years at De La Salle School in St.Helens. Unfortunately international referee appointments failed to coincide with the other two South African and New Zealand Rugby Union heroes, so my admiration, as with the majority of enthusiasts, came from afar.

In schoolboy sport Steve was initially a talented footballer but at De La Salle, which still continued to play rugby union as the major sport – a legacy of the halcyon West Park School days – quickly transferred his skills to union, though league was also beginning to feature. In 1998, appearing at fly-half, he played in the Liverpool St.Helens U16 Floodlight Final in a victory over St.Anselm’s College, Birkenhead. On turning professional in 1992 for St.Helens RLFC he enjoyed a distinguished career in the full-back position, adding Great Britain honours, then England, before switching allegiance to Ireland. By 1997 he had transferred to Hull FC for two separate spells and also played for Wakefield only to end his career prematurely in 2003 when he broke a kneecap playing for Lancashire against Yorkshire.

Diagnosed with terminal cancer seven years ago, he refused to be beaten and, in launching the Steve Prescott Foundation, participated in some awesome physical challenges to raise money for Christie’s hospital in Manchester and Try Assist, the Rugby Football League’s benevolent fund. My last meeting with him was in 2010 when he gave a moving address at the De La Salle School Presentation Evening. Over 2000 attended his funeral service on November 18th, testimony indeed to a very special person. To say that he has been an inspiration, and will continue to be so, hardly does justice to a remarkable life.  

Anyone watching the interview with Joost van der Westhuizen prior to the Scotland v South Africa match could not have been far from tears. Before our very eyes there was South Africa’s record cap holder and probably one of the greatest ever scrum halves, wheelchair bound and reduced to requiring sub-titles to convey his answers. In 2011 it was announced that he had a form of motor neurone disease with only a 20% chance of living from two to five years. Controversial both on and off the field, he spent his entire career as a scum half and has the honour of being part of the first ever South African team to win the Rugby World Cup in 1995. He remains active in conducting the affairs of his J9 Foundation, a charity devoted to MND issues, and has often reflected “I’m a firm believer that there’s a bigger purpose in my life and I am very positive, very happy.”

In the opposition ranks for that memorable final of 2005 was a sensational winger and record World Cup try scorer, in 1995, crossing 15 times, who never managed a single one against South Africa, his closest call being hauled down by Van Der Westhuizen after defying several other challenges in that same match. It was none other than Jonah Lomu, the youngest player to make his debut for the All Blacks; the ‘phenomenon’ description of him is in no way an exaggeration. He has recently been one of the subjects in Sky’s compelling “Sporting Legends” series in which he talked passionately about his life; he suffers from a rare kidney disorder that first required a transplant in 2004, undergoes regular dialysis and is on the waiting list for a second transplant. Here was the third example of a sportsman almost cut down in his prime yet displaying the most amazing courage. First diagnosed back in 1995, he continues to fight on and attempts to live life to the full, devoting much time to the UNICEF Live Below the Line campaign.

There are often reminders that “it’s only a game,” but, in between the highs and lows, we find three very different contemporary examples of qualities which transcend the sport itself; iconic figures indeed, who have added a new dimension to our attraction to rugby.