John Robert Clive Matthews

John Robert Clive Matthews

John Robert Clive Matthews was born in Hastings on 14 June 1922 and educated at Sutton Valence School and Guy's Hospital where he qualified as a dentist. He did National Service in the Royal Navy and played for Combined Services. He played at lock for Harlequins and captained the club for three seasons between 1947 and 1951. In 1947 he played for London Counties against Australia and four years later led the same team to an historic victory over South Africa. He gained 10 caps for England between 1949 and 1952. In 1950 he was selected for the British Isles' tour of Australasia but declared himself unavailable. John Matthews died on 2 February 2004, aged 81.