Jeffrey Alan Probyn was born in Bethnall Green on 27 April 1956 and educated at the London Nautical School before becoming a company director. He played for Streatham, Askeans, Wasps and Bedford and between 1988 and 1993 gained 37 caps at tight-head prop for England. In 1989 he toured with a World XV in South Africa. After retirement he served on the council of the Rugby Football Union and was manager of England under-21. Jeff Probyn captained the Barbarians against Leicester in 1997 and East Midlands and Germany in 2002. His final appearance in the Mobbs Memorial Match of 2002 was 17 days after his 46th birthday. He also served on the Barbarians committee from 2000 to 2008.