Every four years the British & Irish Lions dominate the sporting headlines, and rightly so. The pairings, the clashes, the mind games and who will wear the coveted number 10 shirt are hot topics. It’s easy to forget that every player who has worn the Lions jersey started their rugby journey many years ago. Most would have begun at grassroots level and at a local rugby club, like Sandbach Rugby Club, with other young players trying to find their feet in an unfamiliar sport.
At a gala charity cricket match in Knutsford recently, Sandbach Rugby Club were honoured by this year’s British & Irish Lions sponsor Howden, to recognise the grassroots club for producing the British & Irish Lions player Mark Cueto.
Mark, British & Irish Lions cap 734, played for Sandbach in the 90’s before it became apparent that his talent would clearly take him to higher places. His professional career began in 2001 with Sale Sharks for whom he subsequently made over 300 appearances. Mark earned 55 caps for England and was selected for the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in 2005. In the World Cup Final against South Africa in 2008 he came agonisingly close to immortality when in the act of scoring what would have been the winning try his foot was adjudged to have been in touch by the narrowest of margins.
Howden’s Regional Director, Gemma Milburn, presented a commemorative plaque to Peter Sherratt of Sandbach Rugby Club, to celebrate the club’s role in producing and nurturing a British & Irish Lion.
As the Lions squad jets off to Australia, it’s time to start planning your Lions series. Every game will be screened live at Sandbach Rugby Club and everyone is welcome. The bar will be open and food will be available. Whatever the score, whatever the series outcome, rugby begins at a grassroots club and who knows which club the next British & Irish Lion legend will come from.