Nick Duncombe
Encyclopedia
Nick Duncombe was a promising English rugby union
footballer who won two international caps before dying aged 21 of meningitis
contracted while on what has erroneously been described as a warm-weather training trip to Spain
with his club Harlequins
. In reality, it was a short break, to Lanzarote, with his club colleague, Nathan Williams.
Duncombe, a scrum-half, also represented England
in sevens
at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. He was educated at the Royal Grammar School
, High Wycombe
.
Dan Luger, another established England international, was also due to be on the trip with Nick Duncombe, but was called into the England squad to play France at Twickenham.
A statue of Nick is displayed at Harlequins Twickenham home, The Stoop
.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer who won two international caps before dying aged 21 of meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
contracted while on what has erroneously been described as a warm-weather training trip to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
with his club Harlequins
Harlequin F.C.
The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
. In reality, it was a short break, to Lanzarote, with his club colleague, Nathan Williams.
Duncombe, a scrum-half, also represented England
England national rugby union team (sevens)
The English national rugby union sevens team compete in the World Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-Honours:* 1973 International Seven-A-Side Tournament - Winners* Rugby World Cup Sevens Winners 1993* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 2002* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 2003*...
in sevens
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. He was educated at the Royal Grammar School
Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe
See Royal Grammar School for the other schools with the name RGS.The Royal Grammar School High Wycombe is a selective grammar school situated in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England. As a state school it does not charge fees for students to attend, but they must pass an entrance exam...
, High Wycombe
High Wycombe
High Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
.
Dan Luger, another established England international, was also due to be on the trip with Nick Duncombe, but was called into the England squad to play France at Twickenham.
A statue of Nick is displayed at Harlequins Twickenham home, The Stoop
The Stoop
Twickenham Stoop is a sports stadium located in the western suburbs of London, England. The stadium is home to Harlequins rugby union team, who play in the Aviva Premiership, and tenants London Broncos, who play in the Super League...
.