Career Record: Played 14, Won 4, Drew 1, Lost 9
Test Points: 48
Penalties: 14
Conversions: 3.
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1975 v Australia (Brisbane) L 30-21
1976 v Australia (Twickenham) W 23-6
1976 v Wales (Twickenham) L 21-9 (FN)
1976 v Scotland (Murrayfield) L 22-12 (FN)
1976 v Ireland (Twickenham) L 13-12 (FN)
1977 v Scotland (Twickenham) W 26-6 (FN)
1977 v Ireland (Dublin) W 4-0 (FN)
1977 v France (Twickenham) L 4-3 (FN)
1977 v Wales (Cardiff) L 14-9 (FN)
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1978 v Wales (Twickenham) L 9-6 (FN)
1979 v Scotland (Twickenham) D 7-7 (FN)
1979 v France (Twickenham) W 7-6 (FN)
1979 v Wales (Cardiff) L 27-3 (FN)
1979 v Ireland (Dublin) L 12-7 (FN)
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Alistair Hignell playing rugby for England on 17th February 1979.
Photo George Herringshaw. ©
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With his viking beard and flowing locks, fullback Alastair Hignell was an unmistakable figure on the rugby field and showed a maturity beyond his years in a four year International career between 1975 and 1979. A gifted all round sportsman who also excelled at cricket, Alastair first came to public attention as a freshman student at Cambridge University when he was selected for England's 1975 tour of Australia. Only 19, Alastair was part of an experimental side which was met with unbridled ferocity by Dave Brockhoff's ultra motivated Wallabies. Alastair's debut came in the second test at Brisbane, a game which erupted into violence within minutes of the opening kick off and was later dubbed "The Battle of Ballymore". Despite being reduced to 14 men, England actually led the match going into the second half but eventually succumbed to a 30-21 defeat. Many of the rookies from that tour sank without trace, but Alastair's performance ensured his international survival and he remained in the selectors' minds.
The chance to avenge Ballymore came quickly and England overwhelmed Australia the following January with Alastair kicking eleven points in a 23-3 victory at Twickenham. He went on to play in three matches of the subsequent Five Nations series, but England were whitewashed for the second time in five years. He kept his spot for the 1977 season which included a narrow 4-3 defeat by France, but played in just one match the following year. The 1979 season was his last and ended in a 27-3 defeat by Wales in Cardiff. In retirement Alastair would become an excellent schoolboy coach and then a journalist and commentator. In 1999 he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis which cruelly robbed him of the physical strength on which he thrived, but he battled on and campaigned to raise awareness of the illness. In total, Alaistair won 14 caps for England and scored 48 points. (Jon Collins)
His cricket career for Gloucestershire.
1974-83 (10 seasons)
Capped 1977
137 matches / 231 innings / 35 not out / 5,678 runs
best: 149 n.o / Ave: 28.96 / 7 centuries
Bowling; 3 wickets for 98 runs best 2 for 13 v Sri Lanka)
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