Colin Macfadyean

Half-Scottish, Colin Macfadyean was born in Tavistock. He joined school from the Prep in the Christmas term of 1954. He played for the 55-56 U13 side and the Junior Colts the following season. His father was in the Navy and Colin left Plymouth to pursue the rest of his where he would go on to Loughborough where he qualified as a teacher. He came back to Plymouth to play for an All Star OPM XI against Albion when the OPM Club at Efford was opened. Colin spent his later club career with Moseley.

He won the first of his 11 caps for England in 1966 and in his last two internationals, in 1968, he captained the side. Mainly playing centre, he scored a total of four tries for his country, he also played in all four internationals against the All Blacks on the British Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1966.

From 1991 to 2000, when he was sidelined by a knee replacement, he was head coach at Bristol. In 2001 he was appointed deputy head of Ilminster Avenue Primary School, Bristol, and it was in that capacity that he met Tony Blair at Downing Street. Colin died of pneumonia and sepsis four days after his 82 birthday.

Colin Macfadyean
11 March 1943 – 15 March 2025