David William Egerton (19 October 1961 – 8 February 2021) was an English rugby union international who represented England from 1988 to 1990.[1] At club level, Egerton played for Bath Rugby between 1985 and 1995. After retiring, Egerton worked as a coach for Bristol United and Bridgwater & Albion.

David Egerton
Birth nameDavid William Egerton
Date of birth19 October 1961
Place of birthPinner, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom[1]
Date of death8 February 2021(2021-02-08) (aged 59)
Place of deathBristol, England, United Kingdom
UniversityLoughborough University
Rugby union career
Position(s) No. 8
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Loughborough Students RUFC ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1985–1995 Bath Rugby 163 ()
Correct as of 9 February 2021
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1988–1990 England 7 (4)
Correct as of 9 February 2021

Early life

edit

David Egerton was born on 19 October 1961 in Pinner, Middlesex,[1] and from 1973 to 1980 attended Bishop Wordsworth's School.[2]

Rugby union career

edit

Egerton primarily played as a number 8.[3] Whilst at Loughborough University, he played for English Universities and England Students rugby teams.[4]

Egerton made 163 appearances for Bath Rugby between 1985 and 1995.[5] He won five league titles, and five cup competitions with Bath,[3] and helped them win the 1990 Pilkington Cup.[6] He averaged one try every three games for Bath.[7] He also played for the Barbarians, making his debut for the club in the 1990 Lisbon Sevens tournament.[8]

Egerton made his international debut for England on 23 April 1988 at Lansdowne Road against Ireland.[1] Of the seven matches he played for the national side he was on the winning side on five occasions. He scored one international try, against Ireland in 1990.[1] He was selected in the England squads for the 1987 and 1991 Rugby World Cups, but both times had to withdraw due to injury.[6] He also played for the British and Irish Lions team which defeated France at Parc des Princes in October 1989.[3] Egerton played his final match for England on 4 August 1990 at José Amalfitani Stadium against Argentina.[1]

Post-retirement

edit

After retiring as a player, Egerton became head coach of Bridgwater & Albion.[9] He scouted Richard Hill, who went to the same secondary school as Egerton had, and invited him to a Bath training session.[10] Ahead of the 1997–98 season, Egerton joined Bristol United as a coach. In February 1998, Egerton became joint caretaker coach of Bristol, alongside Darryl Jones. The next month, he was appointed an assistant coach. He left the role during the 1998–99 season for personal reasons.[4]

Egerton later commentated for BBC Radio Bristol,[3] and also worked in investment management in Hong Kong.[9] Egerton returned to the United Kingdom in 2016, and lived in Clifton, Bristol.[9]

Death

edit

Egerton died on 8 February 2021[3] after being hospitalised with COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in England.[11]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f "David William Egerton". ESPN scrum.
  2. ^ "Bishop Wordsworth's School". www.bws-school.org.uk. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Dave Egerton: Bath and England back row dies at age of 59". BBC Sport. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  4. ^ a b "OBITUARY: DAVE EGERTON". Bristol Bears. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Bath Rugby 'club legend' Dave Egerton dies at 59". Somerset Live. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  6. ^ a b "BATH RUGBY LEGEND AND 1989 LION DAVE EGERTON DIES AGE 59". British and Irish Lions. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  7. ^ "DAVID EGERTON – TALES FROM THE LEGENDS". Bath Rugby. 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  8. ^ Jones, Stephens, ed. (1991). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook, 1991–92, 20th ed. (pbk) (20th ed.). London: Queen Anne Press. p. 178. ISBN 0356202496.
  9. ^ a b c "Bath Rugby's 1986 John Player Cup winning side... Where are they now?". Bath Chronicle. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  10. ^ Hill, Richard (2010). The Autobiography. Orion Publishing Group. pp. 25, 48. ISBN 9781409106111.
  11. ^ "Ex-England rugby star and Loughborough University student dies after contracting Covid-19". Leicester Mercury. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.