Half a century after Cambridge were proclaimed the finest ever Varsity match side, its veterans return to Twickenham. The Guardian's Frank Keating reports.
"On Wednesday night in London's swish Savoy hotel will gather 15 greybeards in faded, threadbare light blue blazers, a few of them a little shaky on their pins, but each with soft-boiled rheumy eyes glowing furnace-bright in the recollected glories of their prime. And on Thursday they will take their hangovers to Twickenham to share a slap-up commemorative lunch with 13 of their deadly rivals from a precise half‑century ago. Then, together, the 26 fond old codgers will watch the 130th University rugby match.
"When this junketing band of Cambridge ancients beat Oxford in the 80th contest on 11 December 1961 they established a timeless record which proclaims them still as the finest Varsity match XV in history as the only one ever to remain unbeaten throughout their season – P14 W14, points for 249, against 49. It is particularly notable for in those days both universities would prepare for Twickenham with a string of matches against the grandest clubs in the land, full‑strength teams packed with international players from such as Cardiff, Newport, Gloucester, Leicester, Coventry, Bedford, Harlequins, and Northampton. The Cambridge immortals of '61 beat them all. No wonder old men's recollections on Tuesday night will be rich and roseate."
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