In memory of Sammy Woods

Mike Gatting was at Brighton College yesterday with Chance to Shine to open the new Sammy Woods Pavilion at the school, dedicated to one of the college's famous alumni who was surely one of the great dual nationals in sport. Born in Sydney, he came over to England to be schooled in 1884 and was a big success, taking 78 wickets for the school at an average of 7, including all ten for 14 runs against Lancing College, the local rivals.

After school, Woods was offered a place at Somerset, who he represented until 1910, but decided to play for the land of his birth against England in three Tests 1888. Nothing wrong with that, of course, except that seven years later he then played three Tests for England in South Africa. In between the two series he played for five years, 13 matches, as a rugby international for England, but never played for Australia. Maybe he just went to whoever asked him first?