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A former England rugby player has foiled a robbery attempt by three men
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Police are still looking for the trio, one of whom reportedly had a gun
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John Ranson represented England between 1963 and 1964, winning seven Test match caps
A 78-year-old former England rugby player has foiled a robbery attempt by three men, chasing them out of his house in Malta using only a mug of tea.
John Ranson says he slammed the door on the first intruder, threw the hot tea at the eyes of the second and targeted the third with his empty mug.
Mr Ranson, who represented England between 1963 and 1964, winning seven Test match caps, says the incident has made him more careful over security.
“I usually wake up early, between 05:00 and 06:00,” he told the BBC.
“I made a mug of tea and was going through the garage when I saw a foot behind the door.”
At first, Mr Ranson said, he thought it was the pool man, even though it was not his day. Then he spotted the other two intruders.
“They were all wearing balaclavas and one of them had a gun. I thought: ‘This is for real’.”
Police are still looking for the trio, one of whom reportedly had a gun. The incident happened in Siggiewi, a rural area where Mr Ranson has lived 10 out of his 26 years in Malta.
