JEFFREY Butterfield, who in the 1950s won a then-record 28 consecutive England rugby union caps and four for the British Lions, has died aged 74.
He was born in Heckmondwike on August 9, 1929. He went to Cleckheaton Grammar School and Loughborough University.
He played rugby for Northampton and Yorkshire.
His England debut came in 1953 against France. He scored a try in each of his first two games, which saw England win their first outright championship since 1937. His 28 caps achievement was a record for a centre, later broken by Paul Dodge.
He played in all four of the 1957 internationals, which gave England their first Grand Slam for 29 years. He captained his country throughout 1959.
A thigh injury on the Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand that year brought his rugby career to a premature end.
Jeffrey and his wife, Barbara, ran the Rugby Club in London. They have a son, Giles, and granddaughter Sophie.
