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Chris Ralston was an extremely underrated lock forward whose talent was never really put to best use due to England's incoherent forward tactics in the early 1970s. Indeed, despite fielding such great players as Fran Cotton, Tony Neary, Peter Dixon and Roger Uttley in this period, England were generally incapable of dominating their opponents up front, particularly when playing Wales. A laid back but highly determined character, Chris won the first of 22 consecutive caps in 1971 in a special game against Scotland to celebrate the RFU's Centenary. The match was lost 26-6, as was a match against a President's XV, this time 28-11.
The mediocrity of that England side is further emphasised by the fact that they conceded eleven tries and scored just one over the two tests. The 1972 season was no different and England were whitewashed, though Chris did have the consolation of helping his team beat South Africa in Johannesburg by 18-9. 1973 proved to be a big year for Chris and he played in seven tests in total, including four consecutive victories against France, Scotland, New Zealand and Australia respectively. In 1974 Ralston again played in all four matches of the Five Nations, and was rewarded with a place in the British Lions squad to tour South Africa. He was not required for the first three tests as the Lions fielded an unbroken pack, but was called up for the fourth when Scotsman Gordon Brown withdrew with a broken hand.
The Lions were already 3-0 up in the series and looked sure to make it a 4-0 clean sweep when they scored tries through Roger Uttley and Andy Irvine, but Fergus Slattery's last minute effort was ruled out and the match ended 13 all. The 1975 season proved to be Ralston's last, and he won his final cap in a 7-6 defeat of Scotland at Twickenham. (Jon Collins)
Away from rugby Chris Ralston was the owner of a family business known as destinations magazines.
It published travel magazines in the Caribbean. Quote from his Company's web site. "
The in-flight magazine business has been long standing in my family,
with the publication and distribution of Gulf Air’s Golden Falcon
magazine in 1972. My Father was also involved in the cruise ship
industry, publishing for the major shipping lines, visiting the Islands
throughout the Caribbean. The company has seen three generations
successfully develop and expand the brand".
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