Not just a game but a life
How do you get to be President of the RFU? With a new President taking over this month, it’s plain to see that the accolade comes from a lifetime of serving the game.
Rob Briers, now 71, has been involved in rugby union for 60 years, having begun playing for West Park Grammar School in St Helens at the age of 11. While playing fly half at school, he was selected to play 10 for Lancashire Schools and then joined his local club, West Park St Helens RFC as a Colt.
As a talented 10, he was persuaded to join Liverpool RFC to get involved at a higher level, but after a season returned to his home club “because I enjoyed playing alongside my friends.”
Staying with his club
Although the decision may have cost him when it came to England trials, when he played in final trials as The Rest v England and was told that one of the reasons he wasn’t chosen was because he was playing for a fairly junior side, he has no regrets.
“It was a disappointment when I was in my early 20s but, at the end of the day, I know I was enjoying my rugby and probably developed my game more as a result,” he says.
His loss was certainly West Park St Helens’ gain. He played for their first XV until past 30, and then for their Vets until retiring through injury. He earned 50 Lancashire caps, in his first season winning the County Championship against Gloucestershire, while playing on the wing. He also played for Lancashire alongside the likes of Bill Beaumont, Fran Cotton, Tony Neary, Mike Slemen and John Horton and also played for North West Counties v Australia, losing by a single score. Rob also played for England U23s against Midland Counties.
A family affair
Before retiring as a player, he was his club’s Vice Chairman aged 23 and on their committee. He coached their first XV and Lancashire Colts for a decade and was Chairman of Lancashire U21s, then Chairman of Selectors for the first XV, as well as serving as North U21s team manager. He became Chairman of West Park St Helens aged 49 and over the years, his entire family followed him into rugby and the club.
His wife Anne-Marie is Lancashire RFU’s membership secretary, his daughter Catherine was manager of the West Park club’s mini and junior section, her son Noah playing there, and Catherine’s husband Neil is director of rugby at Huddersfield RUFC. Rob’s eldest son Stephen played full back for the club and for Durham University’s first team, as well as for Lancashire, Waterloo, Fylde and in Scotland for Boroughmuir. Stephen's son James plays age grade rugby for West Park and is part of the Sale Sharks Developing Player Programme. Rob’s younger son Chris played for West Park St Helens, for Kirkham Grammar School and for England Schools alongside England attack coach Richard Wigglesworth. Chris also played for Orrell, Sedgley Park, Rotherham, Doncaster and Fylde where he is now joint head coach. Chris’s sons Teddy and Frankie play age grade rugby at Fylde.
Add to his and his family’s rugby involvement, Rob’s numerous other roles, which have included President of Lancashire RFU, and serving on their Board, Lancashire representative on the RFU Council until becoming the RFU Junior Vice President, and that doesn’t cover all of his hard work for the game.
He is a trustee and director of the Sale Sharks Foundation Trust, was one of the Council elected RFU Board members for a number of years, chaired the Community Game Board, the Competitions Sub Committee and the County Championship Committee. He also served on the Governance and Rugby Development Committees.
It’s a packed rugby CV for this popular and understated President who says: “I have loved my life in rugby and it has certainly given me more than I have devoted to the game. Nowhere else would I have enjoyed such lasting friendships, shared values, and the sheer fun of playing, watching and being part of the rugby family.”
