Alan Ashcroft (21 August 1930 – 26 January 2021) was an English rugby union player who played in the Number 8 position. Ashcroft played club rugby with

Waterloo FC Waterloo Rugby Club (known as Firwood Waterloo for sponsorship reasons) is an English Rugby Union team based at St Anthony's Road, Blundellsands, Merseyside. Once a powerhouse of the English rugby union game, the men's 1st XV now play in Regio ...

, was capped 16 times for , and was a member of the British Lions team that toured in 1959.

Rugby career

Ashcroft played club rugby with

. He captained the first team from 1959 to 1961. He continued playing for Waterloo's various teams until in his 50s. Ashcroft made his début for the England national team against Wales in the

1956 Five Nations Championship The 1956 Five Nations Championship was the twenty-seventh series of the rugby union Six Nations Championship, Five Nations Championship. Including the previous incarnations as the Home Nations and Five Nations, this was the sixty-second series of ...

. He played all four of England's tests in that year's Championship, as well as all four of England's matches during the 1957 Championship, where they won all four games to secure the title with a

Grand Slam Grand Slam or Grand slam may refer to: Games and sports * Grand slam, winning category terminology originating in contract bridge and other whist card games Athletics * Grand Slam Track, professional track and field league Auto racing * ...

, and the 1958 Championship where England again were crowned champions with three matches won and a draw. Ashcroft's final appearance for England came against Scotland in the

1959 Five Nations Championship The 1959 Five Nations Championship was the thirtieth series of the rugby union Five Nations Championship. Including the previous incarnations as the Home Nations and Five Nations, this was the sixty-fifth series of the northern hemisphere rugby u ...

. Ashcroft's performances for England saw him earn selection for the British Lions' 1959 tour to Australia and New Zealand. He made a total of 18 appearances during the tour, 16 against local opposition, and two test matches; one against New Zealand and one against Australia. Ashcroft featured for a combined England & Wales side against Scotland & Ireland in October 1959 to mark the 50th anniversary of

Twickenham Stadium Twickenham Stadium (; usually known as Twickenham, and for sponsorship purposes known as the Allianz Stadium Twickenham) is a rugby union stadium in Twickenham, London, England. It is owned by the Rugby Football Union (RFU), the English rugby u ...

. He also made 9 appearances for the

Barbarians A barbarian is a person or tribe of people that is perceived to be primitive, savage and warlike. Many cultures have referred to other cultures as barbarians, sometimes out of misunderstanding and sometimes out of prejudice. A "barbarian" may ...

invitational team, including in three matches during their 1958 tour to South Africa.

Personal life

Outside of rugby, Ashcroft was a schoolmaster at

Liverpool College Liverpool College is a coeducational day and boarding school in Mossley Hill, Liverpool, England. It was one of the thirteen founding members of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, Headmasters' Conference. History Liverpool Coll ...

where he taught art. In 2018, following a decision to award ceremonial

caps Caps are flat headgear. Caps or CAPS may also refer to: Science and technology Computing * CESG Assisted Products Service, provided by the U.K. Government Communications Headquarters * Composite Application Platform Suite, by Java Caps, a Java ...

to all former Lions players, Ashcroft was presented with his cap by

Ray French Raymond James French, MBE (born 23 December 1939) is an English former rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. French played at international level in both codes. He won four caps for England in rugby union ...

at an event held at his former club Waterloo. At 88 years old, Ashcroft was amongst the oldest living former Lions players and the cap was presented 59 years after the tour took place. He died in January 2021 at the age of 90.1959 British & Irish Lions tourist Alan Ashcroft dies aged 90
/ref>

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashcroft, Alan 1930 births 2021 deaths Barbarian F.C. players British & Irish Lions rugby union players from England England international rugby union players Rugby union number eights Rugby union players from St Helens, Merseyside Waterloo F.C. players Lancashire County RFU players