John Pullin: 1 November 1941 – 5 February 2021

By Ian Todd
February 26 2021

John Pullin: 1 November 1941 – 5 February 2021   One of the finest ever players at hooker, he played his senior club rugby for Bristol and captained England, capped 42 times between 1966 and 1976. He also won 7 full caps for the British Lions and victorious over the All Blacks with three different sides, England, the Lions and the Barbarians.  He was the first Northern Hemisphere player to lead his country to victories over New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

John Pullin was perhaps best known not for his performances on the pitch (although he was an exceptional hooker, regularly able to win the ball against the head, in an era when hookers still had to actually hook) but for his remark in the after dinner speech following England’s game in Dublin in 1973.  Younger people may not recall the circumstances or why his comment resonated with so many and for so long. 

Scotland and Wales refused to travel to Ireland in 1972 because of fears about terrorist activity, but a year later England came to Dublin at the height of the Troubles.  Northern Ireland was particularly tense with the anniversary of the Parachute regiment's killing of 14 civilians in London/Derry.  1972 had been bad enough.  But eighteen people died in the first four weeks of 1973, seven of those people were killed in the two weeks preceding the January 27th match.  The mood was anxious and it was uncertain if England would make the journey to Dublin.  Running up to the game, three RUC men were killed in bomb attacks; a UDR soldier was abducted and shot dead; a Catholic was killed by

It seems RFU officials met with a number of players to put forward the view that a team must travel to Dublin. Officially the position was that it was a decision for the players but in reality it was obvious the RFU would send a team to Lansdowne Road. Steve Tomlin in his biography of Pullin notes that RFU officials called at the captain's house prior to making the decision to travel.  This in an era when players would find out from the papers if they had been picked or dropped!

England travelled to Dublin and were well beaten 18 - 9.  It was a poor performance in sporting terms but England received a standing ovation from the crowd for ensuring that the match went ahead.

At the post-match dinner John Pullin stood up to make his speech. "We may not be the very good," said the England captain. "But at least we turn up."  Words which cut to the heart of rugby values and the understated virtues of a quite West Country farmer and perhaps the finest player to wear a Bristol shirt.