One of the main priorities of the A-As’ committee, led by Monsieur le President Stewart Faulds, was to arrange tours to rugby playing locations all over the world. The A-As have over the years visited Australia, Canada, Dubai, East Africa, South Africa, USA and Trinidad for the Caribbean Sevens. More local destinations over the water include Galway, Isle of Man, Jersey and Ulster. Tours have also been undertaken to continental countries such as France, Holland, Italy and Spain.

The Anti-Assassins teamed up with Wooden Spoon in 2004 and the partnership has proved to be a great success. The Wooden Spoon A-As’ rugby team continues to play a mixture of traditional fixtures with matches against the Old Boys teams from Sedbergh, Kirkham, Giggleswick and Stonyhurst. Special matches against clubs in the North and other parts of the country are arranged to celebrate Anniversaries and openings etc.  Last season the team also travelled to Cambridge University, Richmond and Taunton. New fixtures this season include the Royal Navy and a visit to Germany to play an Army team as well as a variety of Sevens tournaments.

An invitation to represent the A-As and now the Wooden Spoon Anti-Assassins has delighted many players, be they just good club men or seasoned Internationals, over the last six decades. Amongst the legion of distinguished players to wear the jersey are the likes of John Spencer and Peter Winterbottom, (England); Ian McGeechan and Peter Stagg, (Scotland); John O’Driscoll, (Ireland) and Bill Calcraft and Mark Ella, (Australia). The most recent International is David Strettle who played for England against Ireland at Croke Park last season, having been a member of the A-As’ squad that played in the Caribbean Sevens in 2001.  

The Wooden Spoon Anti-Assassins’ membership now includes over 100 internationals and four Past Presidents of the RFU.  Bill Beaumont, the Lions Manager in New Zealand in 2005 and recently appointed Vice Chairman of the iRB is one of our members.  Malcolm Phillips, President of the RFU in 2005-2006 is the new Wooden Spoon A-As’ President. 

A-A Internationals