GRAHAM ROWNTREE TRUANTS RUGBY LEGENDS DINNER

Just when you think there can’t be any nicer people in the world of rugby, another one steps up to surprise all us Truants.

After two tremendously successful intimate Sanctum evenings with England rugby legends Martin Johnson and Jason Leonard, June 17th saw the Truants masses gathered for the third edition, with a very special guest of honour in place, current England Forwards coach and England and British and Irish Lions Legend Graham ‘Wig’ Rowntree.

Why Wig? Because he once turned up to school with such a poor haircut that everyone thought it was a wig. This is the kind of trivia it’s important for a man (or woman, for that matter) to know. And this is the kind of trivia that only a Truants post dinner Q&A can deliver.

With HoJo acting as MC (“Can’t we get anyone better? Claire Balding, maybe!!?”), Wig was simply delightful, answering questions with seemingly endless reserves of wit and charm. Even Adam Tyrer telling him where England had gone wrong in their World Cup squad selection couldn’t put the man off his stride! Having brought along a signed England shirt and ball to auction off, Wig helped to contribute to the Truants charity as large sums were bid, then accepted, for these tremendous items from around the room. Thanks to all those who raised their hands!

Mark Fuller and the team at Sanctum excelled themselves with a seriously fantastic menu. The Beef Wellington had grown men weeping in their plates at the sheer beauty of it! Now the bar has been set high, what on earth will Mr F dream up for Rugby Legends Dinner Number Four? The pressure is well and truly on!

I’m pleased to report that Wig was truly thrilled with the evening, phoning the following day to say how much he enjoyed meeting “such genuine people”. Strange. We can only assume must have been talking about some other “do”!

Rod has done his very best to persuade Graham – yes, another keen cyclist – to join us in Mexico for The Big One in November, though with the small matter of a Rugby World Cup coming up this may be pushing it.

Thanks to everyone who came, ate, drank and, er, rugby-ed and helped us raise another very fine chunk of cash to donate to our Truants Charities, over £7000 in fact. Hopefully we’ll see you all again soon!