Jeff Butterfield - Founding Father of European Veteran Rugby
Jeffrey - Jeff Buttrefield was born in Heckmondwike, Yorkshire, on August 9th 1929 and educated at Cleckheaton Grammar Scholl and Loughborough College, where he trained as PE teacher. His national service with Duke of Wellington´s Regiment interrupted his years as a student but his native county Yorkshire recognized his ability and when he left college to work at Wellingborough Grammar School, he joined Northampton RFC which was then the leading club in England.
Jeffs debú for England was on February 28th 1953 at Twickenham v. France when he played alongside with established international Lew Cannel, and scored first of his five tries for English national side.
His last game for England was on March 21st 1959 v. Scotland, he played 28 consecutive games for his country, 16 were England victories and only 7 were defeats.
Jeff was an integral member of the team, two Triple Crowns and one Grand Slam, not to mention five Calcutta Cups.
For British Lions Jeff played in 1955, on South Africa Tour, four internationals, scoring tries in three of them and also dropping a vital goal in the third International in Pretoria which the Lions won 9:6. It was the only such a goal he ever scored.
In 1957 and 1958 England played nine Internationals and were unbeaten in all of them, including the victory over Australia much of which was played only 14 men after an injury to Phil Horrocks - Taylor.
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