Les Saxby
Captain for four years who had great final season
By John Theyers
Les Saxby played for Gloucester from 1924 to 1932. He started his career as a centre but moved to the back row and became pack leader. He captained the club for four seasons (1927-30 and 1931-32). He was an England international and Barbarian and captained Gloucestershire to the CountyChampionship.
Leslie Eric Saxby was born on May 19, 1900 at Bradfield, Berkshire. He played for Hereford from 1921-26 and captained the club. While with Hereford he played county rugby for North Midlands in the centre. In April 1924 while still with Hereford, he made his debut in the centre for Gloucester and played on their Easter tour. He was described as a student at Reading College. The following season he played occasionally for Gloucester, referred to in the press as “the Hereford man” and played again for North Midlands.
During the 1925-26 season (and now referred to as “ex-Hereford”) he tried to break into the Gloucester side at centre, but it was not until November 1926 that he made his debut in the back row. The Citizen said “Saxby was introduced into the pack…..With a better knowledge of the finer points of forward play the old Hereford player should prove a useful acquisition.” The experiment was an immediate success and within four months Saxby made his debut for Gloucestershire against Monmouth in the back row.
Les Saxby captained Gloucester for the next three seasons, 1927-1930 and also played regularly for Gloucestershire. It was a period of success for both club and county. He gave up the captaincy in 1930-31 but took it on again for one final season the following year.
1931-32 was Les Saxby’s great season. England were looking for an experienced pack leader and chose Saxby to captain the Rest against England in the final trial. Saxby was chosen and captained the Rest to a 16-6 victory. He was selected to play against the touring South Africans and also played in the following international against Wales. He captained Gloucestershire to County Championship victory against Durham and played for the Barbarians on their Easter tour. He retired at the end of the season.
At the time of Les Saxby’s selection The Times reported that “he is one of the oldest forwards who ever received a cap towards the very end of his career” and the rumour persisted that he was close to 40, but it is now generally accepted that he was in fact born in 1900.