RUCK takes look at some of the memorable moments that have happened on this day in the remarkable history of Rugby Union.
What Happened On This Day – 4 July
1966: The British Lions scored a remarkable 25 points in 22 minutes against the Wallabies, which set the platform for a record 31-0 – which was a record win for the tourists against any international team.
1995: The game wasn’t quite professional but it was men vs. boys as the All Blacks romped to a 145-17 win against Japan in Bloemfontein, which was a record for a World Cup match. They didn’t even have Jonah Lomu in the team…
1998: Joost van der Westhuizen was among the try-scorers as the Springboks thrashed England 18-0 in Cape Town. This was the last match of the infamous tour of Australasia and South Africa and is often referred to in rugby culture as ‘The Tour of Hell’.
2017: Harlequins confirmed that one of its most exciting prospects, Joe Marchant, has extended his contract with the club.
Births On This Day – 4 July
1878: Edward Jackett – He was a fullback, who represented England, the British Lions and competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics for Great Britain, winning a silver medal. He joined Leicester Tigers in 1904 from Cornwall and played 183 times for the club over the next seven years. He worked as an Artist’s model, a Policeman and a Theatre manager before dying in 1935, aged 57.
1946: Ian Forsyth – The centre is a Scottish former rugby union player who won six international caps for the Scotland national rugby union team.
1962: Jeff Miller – He is a former Australian international rugby union player. Miller played as a flanker and was capped 26 times for Australia between 1986 and 1991. He was a member of the winning Australian squad at the 1991 Rugby World Cup and was also in the squad at the 1987 Rugby World Cup.
1970: Doddie Weir – The legend is a Scottish former rugby union player who played as a lock. He made 61 international appearances for the Scotland national team. In June 2017, it was made public that Weir was suffering from Motor Neurone Disease. Weir announced his diagnosis via Twitter in order to promote Global MND Awareness Day. Weir has since set up a foundation named ‘My Name’5 Doddie‘ in order to ‘raise funds for research into a cure for MND
1996: Tom Kennedy – He is an Irish rugby union player who plays for the Ireland national rugby sevens team. Kennedy helped Ireland win the 2018 Moscow Sevens tournament and was the leading try scorer in the tournament overall with nine tries