David J Duckham MBE. An Appreciation

DAVID JOHN DUCKHAM MBE (1946 -2023), an appreciation by John Butler.  Tributes have simply poured in ever since the very sad news was broken of the death of David Duckham. He died in London at St Thomas’s Hospital on the evening of Monday 9th January 2023 at the age of 76.

Honoured with an MBE for his services to Rugby Union Football, whilst living very privately in relation to his family, David also lived a very full one. Firstly,as a player of considerable distinction and then in later life as an ambassador of the game he loved in so many different roles.

'DJD' was Coventry born & bred, attending King Henry VIII Grammar School. At school, David also excelled as a sprinter in Athletics, taking part in international trials, but it was rugby which won out.

After playing for his old boys' side, Old Coventrians, for several seasons, David joined the Coventry club in 1966/67, which was to prove to be the only senior club side he played for in his career.

His First Team debut was made away at Fylde (coincidentally the home club of Sir Bill Beaumont) in September 1967, on his way to 239 senior appearances for 'Cov', scoring 147 tries. That statistic left David the third-highest try scorer for the Club.

David captained the Club in both RFU Knock-Out Competition finals of 1973 and 1974, before making his final club appearance against Bristol at Coundon Road on 28th April 1979. In later years he became Club President.

Without doubt, David Duckham was right up there with the very best Coventry Rugby has produced; many feeling with every justification he was 'the best'.

On the international scene, whether it be the Barbarians, England or the British and Irish Lions, David became a household name.

The first of 36 England caps, for whom he scored 10 tries, came against Ireland at Twickenham in 1969, where he partnered John Spencer in the centre three-quarter positions many times. It proved to be the decade when England Rugby was not at its strongest, David shining through, before the last international appearance came against Scotland in 1976.

England as a team may have struggled during the ‘Duckham era’, but more widely David was to make his mark personally and significantly both for the British and Irish Lions and the Barbarians.

It was in 1973 at the height of the troubles in Ireland that it is known DJD played a significant role in determining that England actually both travelled and played in Dublin, something which other countries failed to honour. As John Pullin the England captain was quoted as saying, "we may have not been the best, but at least we turned up" and David was quoted as being very instrumental in that.

The 1971 Lions, skippered by the late John Dawes, were to become the first to win a series in New Zealand, with David playing a significant part.

It was the Lions however who saw great mileage in making use of David’s significant talents by moving him from centre to wing three quarter. Here his speed, elusiveness and sidestep off both feet were seen to maximum effect.

From there onwards, David played in both positions, his final ones for Coventry notably being back in the centre.

Back to the 1971 Lions, selection came in three of the four test matches, while overall on the tour David ran in 11 tries from 16 appearances. Four of the tries came against West Coast-Buller, a statistic which remains as a Lions record.

Two years later came an appearance for the Barbarians at Cardiff in 1973; a match which has gone down in rugby folklore. David had firstly played for the BaaBas in 1969, but it will always be the 1973 game against the touring New Zealand All Blacks that will be remembered.

Playing on the right wing, David’s mesmerizing running confused both the All Blacks themselves, but also the match day commentating of the late Cliff Morgan. The, also, late Bill McLaren missed that game with illness. What superlatives would he have come out with to describe events?

It was from there and onwards that having thrilled the Cardiff crowd with his performance, DJD came to be known in Wales as 'Dai' - quite an honour in itself!

A year later in 1974, there came around another Lions tour, which sadly David missed through injury.

Outside of Rugby, David worked for many years with the Barclays Group and in the Construction industry. Major bypass surgery followed after his playing days, after which he also took up a senior marketing role at Bloxham School in Banbury.

David later became an accomplished After Dinner speaker much sought after, as well as being a Master of Ceremonies. His autobiography 'Dai for England’ was published in 1980.

Another area, perhaps not so widely known, was the Presidency of the Wooden Spoon Society, who help in the lives of disadvantaged children and young people.

David will always be remembered as being a very modest man. In his playing days there were many great players around. David ranked with them, his long blond hair leaving many in his wake.

To his wife Jean, three daughters and all his family and friends, we send sincere condolences for their loss of a true great and true gent.

John Butler