The magnificent men of England’s swinging 20s

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

What’s happening here?

It’s January 1924 at Swansea’s St Helens Ground and England are leading Wales 8-3 at the break. Teams stayed on at half-time back then and a bold photographer – name unknown – has ventured onto the pitch and approached the huddle, unheard of in those days. From left to right we have Jake Jacob, Bevan Chantrill, Alan Robson, Arthur Blakiston, Geoff Conway, Tom Voyce, skipper Wavell Wakefield, Ronald Cove-Smith and Bill Luddingtton.

What’s the story behind the picture?

England were enjoying an historic, halcyon period. Before the outbreak of war in 1914 they had won back-to-back Grand Slams and when hostilities ceased they soon picked up where they left off by winning Slams in 1921, 1923 and 1924. England were in their pomp and enjoying it all immensely. Under the captaincy of Wakefield, who demanded supreme fitness, they had adopted a scientific approach to the game and played at extreme pace. They had not, however, often enjoyed success at Swansea over the years and wanted to put on a show in front of the capacity 35,000 crowd.

What happened next?

In this game England resisted a strong second-half comeback from Wales to win 17-9. And in terms of the Championship it heralded another glorious Grand Slam with a 14-3 win over Ireland in Dublin, a 19-7 victory over France at Twickenham and finally a 19-0 Calcutta Cup win over Scotland at Twickenham.

As for the individuals involved they all had a tale to tell. It was a short glorious quick-fire season for Oxford University wing Jacob who enjoyed a curious career. He scored in this game and claimed an outstanding hat-trick against France but was jettisoned at the end of the season for six seasons before a shock return in 1929 against France. He finished his England career with five wins in five games.

Bevan ‘Bunny’ Cantrill was a strong tackling full-back from Bristol who, like Jacob, never played for England again after the Slam although in his case a recurring shoulder injury was the main reason. He became a gold prospector in South Africa and served in the South African airforce in World War 2.

Hooker Alan Robson from the Northern club suffered a similar fate. He was ever present in the Slam but played just once again, against Wales in 1926. Baronet Sir Arthur Blakiston MC was capped 12 times in total by England and played in all four Lions Tests against South Africa later in 1924. A gentleman farmer he was, for many years, Master of the South Shropshire Foxhounds Geoff Conway MC was a Cambridge graduate, known as the King of the Dribblers on account of his nifty footwork, who won 18 caps and after a career in teaching retired to Greece to become a full time archaeologist.

Voyce was Gloucester through and through and ever present in England’s 1921, 1923 and 1924 Slams. He also played two Test for the 1924 Lions.

Wavell Wakefield needs no introduction surely – 31 England caps and the foremost thinker on the game at this time – while the dashing Ronald Cove- Smith was equally renowned and another Cambridge man who won 29 England caps and captained the 1924 Lions in South Africa. He later became one of the leading obstetricians.

Bill Ludington was a naval man and ever present in 1923 and 1924 before dropping out of the team. During World War 2 he was Master of Arms on HMS Illustrious the aircraft carrier.

He was killed on January 10, 1942 off the coast of Sicily when Illustrious came under attack by a squadron of Stuke dive bombers.

Why is this picture iconic?

Even today this feels like a candid, intimate shot, and nearly 100 years ago it was unheard of but the anonymous photographer was clearly looking for just such an image because all the photographs he took that day had a similar ‘documentary’ feel. It takes you right into the group and the game and you get a sense of the personalities involved. So we have the debutants Jacob, Chantrill and Robson standing slightly aside from the inner circle.

The first of those is Blakiston with his distinctive scrum cap and then comes the side’s four big hitters who have all been virtually ever present since Test rugby resumed after the Great War, the engine room of the team: Conway, Voyce, Wakefield and Cove-Smith.

There lies the emotional heart of this picture.

Wakefield didn’t suffer fools gladly and I sense he is about to tell the snapper to buggar off. Finally on the right we have Bill Luddington who had made his debut the previous season,

If you think the handsome smile of Cove-Smith is slightly forced you would be right. Early in the first half he broke three ribs but in an era when there were no replavements he is bravely battling on. The close proximity to the carnage of world war rendered mere broken bones and cuts as piffling inconsequences.

Footnote. Cove-Smith was also to play in the 1928 Grand Slam-winning team, making him the only player to appear in one game or more in all four Grand Slams in the swinging 20s.