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Holmes passes away

9 April 2009, 3:07 pm

By Rob Barnett

Former England prop Wally Holmes, who played in the 1950s, has died in the Midlands at the age of 83.

The versatile front row forward was the first senior international from the Nuneaton club and went on to win 16 caps in four seasons.

He made his debut at the early age of 24 in an 11-5 defeat against Wales at Twickenham in January 1950, alongside Eric Evans and John Kendall-Carpenter in the front row.

England struggled for any sort of victory in 1950 and 1951, winning just two of his first eight games, but enjoyed great success in the following years.

They beat Scotland, Ireland and France in 1952, with Holmes absent from the side for the 8-6 defeat against Wales, then topped the championship in 1953 when only a 9-9 draw with Ireland denied them a Grand Slam.

Holmes' final international appearance - he was still only 28 - saw the side cut loose against Scotland at Twickenham, scoring six three-point tries in a 26-8 triumph.

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