Rugby traditions remembered

Before leaving Emanuel in 1952 and joining the RAF Brian Prior (OE 44-52) played school rugby for most of his years at the school.

He, recently, very kindly donated an old rugby cap which played a traditional role on rugby match days. Although we’re unsure when the tradition exactly started, but in the 1940s and onwards it was customary for the First XV Captain to lead his team onto the pitch during match days wearing this traditional school cap. The cap would then be customary passed to members of the Emanuel support and returned to the captain at the end of the match.

The out-going captain then passed the cap to the captain-elect for the next season. By the time Brian became captain the tradition had begun to fade as it was felt that the cap was being mistreated by the spectators! After a while the cap was worn only occasionally and eventually the cap was left at home, permanently. Brian’s home!

By the time Brian left Emanuel and was heading for the RAF the cap was safely tucked away in his parents’ loft where it was to remain for many years, only now returning to the school, half-a-century later.

Looking back on it, as school rugby became more aggressive, it was felt that this cap gave the wrong impressions to the opponents and something more ferocious was required! Brian’s cap has now been added to the school archives for anyone who wants to see it.

TRJ archivist