Richard Eric Gautrey Jeeps

Richard Eric Gautrey Jeeps

Richard Eric Gautrey Jeeps was born in Willingham, Cambridgeshire, on 25 November 1931 and educated at Bedford Modern School. He was a fruit farmer in Cambridgeshire and later a councillor and JP. He played at scrum-half for Northampton in 273 games between 1952 and 1965, scored 48 tries, and was club captain in 1958/59. Dickie Jeeps toured with the British Isles to South Africa in 1955 before he had played for England and distinguished himself with 11 appearances, including the four tests. He subsequently toured with the Lions again, to Australasia in 1959 and a return trip to South Africa in 1962. By the end of his third tour he had made 42 appearances, including 13 tests, scored 19 points and captained the British Isles in the fourth test against the Springboks in 1962. Meanwhile his England career had started in 1956 and by his final international in 1962 he had captained his country in 13 of his 24 internationals. He twice played for England & Wales XV in four countries' matches against Scotland & Ireland - in Dublin in 1955 and as captain at Twickenham in 1959. He also captained London Counties against South Africa in 1960. He later became chairman of the Sports Council, was an England selector from 1965 to 1971, and president of the RFU in 1976/77.