News from Bernie Jones 

It is great to se that an institution like Centaurs has not died. I played in the end  70’ies with that silver-tongued (probably now silver-haired) individual Robbie Clubb, whose impressive delivery of “ F**k off Jones”, haunts me even now. A more sensitive person would have permanently traumatised by it….

I still remember our first victory over UCSOB and the passion with which we played that game. Also, an anniversary game against Middlesex clubs with Bob the Slob Williams coming on to the field as a ‘supersub’. I can’t remember the result but I know we had a great game.

From Centaurs, I journeyed out to Hong Kong , to join a like-minded body of drunks, Kowloon RFC, which, happily, still exists today. I played there for 11 years, and we had a great amount of success. Especially pleasing as we were an ‘anti-establishment’ club with no real club house and only our indomitable spirit (and drinking habits) to keep us going. I was lucky enough to stave off injury to play the whole time, including playing a few games for the Hong Kong side (yes- they were desperate!!). There is still an active ex-Kowloon fraternity dotted around the world, and they still have piss-ups in London and other areas on a regular basis.  

From Hong Kong I moved on to Vancouver, where, at last, I was able to play in my age group (physical as opposed to mental that is). I played with the Capilano Club, which has grown to be the biggest and arguably most successful club in Canada. I stopped playing about three years ago, after a series of injuries which I attributed to the cumulative effects of the knocks I had taken over the years. I coached my son’s team (with others) to a provincial championship at U-14 level and watched his school team get to two regional finals only to lose at the last hurdle. Now he is in University - away from home. Canadian TV is pretty pathetic about televising any rugby, so we don’t see any big games until a few weeks later on Fox TV. Occasionally we see a game live when the French are playing. I saw the Welsh come back and beat the Frogs last year, which was great. Otherwise, sometimes we can see a game on the pub network, on a ‘game delay’ basis.  

I still keep in touch with some of the Centaurs goings on, through my sporadic contacts with Bob Williams and Gareth Hopkins. I was delighted to hear from Roy Farrant the other day, and to get a chance to buy the Golden Years of Centaurs. I will be in the UK over Christmas with the family, and will be linking up with Bob W and Gareth J, so if anyone fancies getting together for a pint, please feel free to join. In the meantime, I am going to be resident in Vancouver for the foreseeable future and can be contacted as below:-

 Bernie Jones

2437 Mowat Place, North Vancouver, B.C Canada V7H 2X2

 Home tel: 604 985-7323

e-mail :bernie_jones@seaspanltd.ca

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