Bob Hesford (rugby union)

Bob Hesford

Full name	Robert Hesford
Date of birth	(1953-03-26)26 March 1953
Date of death	3 August 2023(2023-08-03) (aged 70)
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Rugby union career
Position(s) No. 8 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1981–85 England 10 (0)

Robert Hesford (26 March 1953 — 3 August 2023) was an English rugby union international.[1]

Early life

Hesford was born in Luanshya in Zambia, as the eldest of three brothers and a sister. His youngest brother Iain was a professional football goalkeeper, while the middle brother Steve played rugby league for Warrington. Their father Bob Sr was a Huddersfield Town footballer during the 1930s and 1940s. He was educated at Arnold School, Blackpool.[2]

Rugby

Hesford studied at Durham University, where he competed for the university rugby club and was also selected for the British Universities side.[3] Academic commitments at Durham prevented him from joining the Lancashire tour of South Africa and Rhodesia in 1974. He took up a teaching job in London post-graduation and played a season for Wasps. He represented Bristol from 1978.[3]

International career

A number eight, Hesford gained 10 England caps between 1981 and 1985. Following England's 1985 tour of New Zealand, in which he captained England in a tour win over Otago but was not selected for either Test, he announced his retirement from first-class rugby. He received his England caps while playing for Bristol, a club he went on to coach.[4]

See also

• List of England national rugby union players

References

1. "Hesford built on the family tradition". The Rugby Paper. 20 August 2023.
2. "No family at war - Hesford". Manchester Evening News. 7 February 1980.
3. "Obituary: Bob Hesford". Bristol Bears. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
4. Ducker, Chris (8 June 1985). "Hesford to quit big-time rugby". Evening Post.

External links

• Bob Hesford at ESPNscrum