The cradle of rugby’s oldest bespoke manufacturing business can be found across the river from the Millennium Stadium on the far side of the Taff Embankment in Wedmore Road.
Frank Whitcombe lived there through the Great Depression until he took the Rugby League shilling and hitched his wagon to Broughton Rangers in Manchester on September 18, 1935. The family’s Front Row dynasty will therefore be 85 years old next month and far from finished.
A prize-fighter’s son from Cardiff ’s proud inner-city Grangetown district, the founding father would be tickled pink to see his great-grandson is maintaining the tradition at Leicester Tigers, where England props have been rolling off the conveyer belt since before the dawn of professionalism.
James Whitcombe is hoping that maybe one day he will emulate those who have propped in the national cause at all but one of the last six World Cups – Graham Rowntree, Darren Garforth, Julian White, Dan Cole. If the teenaged Whitcombe fails, it won’t be for any lack of stature, not at almost 19 stone and 6ft 3in.
He has a pedigree in the propping department which money can’t buy, a generational success story dating back to when Franklin Roosevelt was in the White House and the Prince of Wales was courting abdication by dating an American divorcee.
Denne historien er fra August 30, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra August 30, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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England show who's No.1
ENGLAND women’s head coach John Mitchell says his side will take valuable lessons from the 24-12 win over world champions New Zealand as they build towards their WXV1 title defence.
Skivington: We're going to roll dice and go for it
THE Cherry and Whites are the enigmas of the Premiership.
Looking to go one step beyond this time around
NE small step is what it will take for Bath to go one better than last season and secure the Premiership for the first time, but it would be one of the biggest taken by the club in the professional era.
Four-try England make it 17 wins on the spin
ENGLAND women opened the Allianz Stadium era at HQ with a victory over New Zealand to make it 17 wins on the bounce before their WXV title defence.
Time for Borthwick to prove his worth
HONEYMOON periods are not set in stone and in my estimation Steve Borthwick’s ends this summer. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still in good shape.
Barrington ready to power up the Mob
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Skivington keen to build identity
GLOUCESTER won their first trophy for nine years last season and reached the Challenge Cup final, but when George Skivington went on holiday the day after the campaign ended the words in his head were never again.
Roebuck targets England success
WINNING a maiden England Test cap to top the best season of his career will not be enough for Sale winger Tom Roebuck.
Booth: Tough telling players I was leaving
TOBY Booth admits telling his Ospreys players that he would be leaving at the end of the season was one of the hardest things he has had to do in his career.
Stephens' debut try sees off old rivals
DORKING had to dig deep in another tight game between two old rivals, with the lead changing hands twice and result in doubt right up to the final whistle.
