22
Jan
Tributes paid to Ripon rugby and cricket star who has died
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Tributes have been paid to a Ripon sports star who represented England in rugby union and Yorkshire in cricket.
Peter Squires died yesterday (January 21) at the age of 74.
Mr Squires was born in Ripon in 1951 and attended Ripon Grammar School, where he first started playing rugby and cricket.
The sportsman excelled in both disciplines at school, captaining the rugby team in 1968.
Mr Squires played for Ripon and Harrogate Rugby Club, and Manningham Mills and Harrogate Cricket Club.
Peter Squires (circled) captained Ripon Grammar School's rugby team in 1968.
By 1972, Mr Squires was competing professionally for Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
In his 49 first-class matches across his four-year career, the opening batsman scored 1,271 runs, with a best score of 70. He took 14 first-class catches.
But the all-rounder was better known for his rugby exploits.
Alongside Harrogate and Ripon, Mr Squires also represented Yorkshire and England. He made 29 appearances for his country in the 1970s, scoring six tries.
He was part of the side that beat Australia 23-6 at Twickenham in 1976, and that became the first nation from the northern hemisphere to beat the All Blacks on home soil in a test match.
In 1977, the winger was selected for the British and Irish Lions Tour in New Zealand. He was one of only five Englishmen to travel.
Mr Squires with his British and Irish Lions cap.
Playing at a time when players weren’t paid, Mr Squires had to request permission from his employers at Harrogate Grammar School to take three-and-a-half months off work.
Speaking to Ripon Grammar School in 2017, the international said that playing for the Lions was one of the things he was most proud of.
A hamstring injury sustained during the tour cut Mr Squires’ international career shorter than he would have hoped, and he retired in 1979.
But he continued to play both rugby and cricket locally, playing for Ripon RUFC into his 40s and league cricket until 2014.
Tributes
A social media post from Ripon Grammar School today paid tribute to the sportsman:
Sorry to hear of the death of rugby legend and RGS past pupil Peter Squires. A huge supporter of sport and rugby both locally and at RGS, he is most recently pictured here at the opening of our 3G pitch. A huge loss. Condolences to all his friends and family at this sad time.
Mr Squires’ first rugby club, Ripon RUFC, also paid tribute to the winger:
It is with great sadness to share the news that today we lost our beloved Lion, Peter Squires #536. Our thoughts are with Peter’s family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him, during this difficult time.
Mr Squires (middle right, black coat navy hat) often went down to watch Ripon Rugby Club on a Saturday.
Speaking to the Stray Ferret today, Harrogate RUFC’s commercial chair, Mike Cowling, who played with Mr Squires many times, said:
I joined in 1976 when he was already an established international playing for the club. He was probably the best right winger in the world at the time and could have played for England many more times if not for injury. He wasn’t the biggest guy in the world, but he made up for that with his speed and elusiveness. You could bet your house on his finishing abilities.
He was also the most amazing person. He was really humble and never made a deal out of how good he was. He’s up there with one of the greatest players to ever play for us and it was an honour to play alongside him.
Ripon Grammar School will hold a short commemoration for Mr Squires at 2.30pm today prior to the under-14s rugby tournament vs Harrogate Grammar School and St John Fisher.
Ripon Rugby Club will hold a minute’s applause before kick off against Old Otliensians on Saturday (January 24).
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