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On this day he captained the AB test team for the 52nd time, thus passing Sean Fitzpatrick's old record of 51. NZ beat Australia by 23-22 in Sydney

GADNEY, CYRIL

The most accomplished referee of the 1930s who later became a powerful administrator of the game at an international level.

Gadney took charge of 15 internationals and six Oxford-Cambridge matches between 1936 and 1948. Among the major games he refereed were the New Zealand touring team of 1935–36 against Scotland and against Wales; France v Australia in 1948, and no fewer than 10 Five Nations games.

He later became a president of the Rugby Football Union and one of England’s representatives on the International Rugby Board (1965–71).

Gadney was a specialist in rugby law and played a major part in the rewriting of the rugby law book to change the wording from out-moded English to a concise, more modern version. He also wrote the updated version of The History of the Laws of Rugby sion of The History of the Laws of Rugby Football in 1972.

Cyril’s brother Bernard was also an accomplished player, who appeared 14 times (nine as captain) for England as a scrumhalf between 1932 and 1938.

He had his birthday of course. He also played a game of rugby; his wife had a baby and his daughter had a baby!