Still scoring tries at 72
When Geoff Janes crossed the whitewash for Olney Vets recently, it was after 61 years of playing rugby and at the age of 72.
Geoff still runs out for Olney thirds on a regular basis, coming into the backs wherever and for as long as he’s needed. On the day of his try, he was on for 15 minutes.
“I had a great pass from my outside centre and just ran it in,” he says. He hasn’t kept count of the number of tries he has scored over the years because “I’ve just been enjoying the beautiful game.”
Introduced to rugby by legendary coach
Geoff first played rugby aged 11 at Brewers Hill Comprehensive School in Dunstable. He was coached by Tom McNab who went on from teaching to become England’s National Athletics Olympic Coach, Technical Director of the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire and to coach England's silver medal-winning squad in the 1992 Rugby World Cup.
Having retired five years ago from “quite a high-profile job” Geoff says: “I found playing rugby mentally very rebalancing. It took me away from the pressure of work.”
Huge asset to the club
David Smith, Olney’s Chairman says that Geoff has played for most of the club’s teams in his 40 years there, while also serving on the committee, managing and coaching teams. More recently, he has been involved in fundraising and working on grants and like one from the RFU to provide segregated changing facilities. His swansong was to work with the local Council on the installation of new, energy saving, LED floodlights at the Club.
“He’s dependable, reliable, a huge asset to the club. He opened up the clubhouse as a warm spot for local residents last winter. Geoff has talked about retiring from playing but his name still appears on the team sheet wherever he’s needed.”
Having usually played centre or full back, Geoff was on the wing for his try.
“I thought of retiring this year, he says, as his wife Liz laughs, “They don’t let me play 80 minute any more. I stay fit but my knees have been giving me a bit of trouble, so my gym work has focused on strengthening my legs to help me run better. I like to wind everyone up by asking where the defibrillator is before I go on the pitch!”
One of his new ventures has been to try setting up a walking rugby team at Olney, although stopping Geoff running would clearly be something of a challenge!
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