Chris OTI

Chris Oti was a winger of prodigious pace and talent and is fondly remembered by all those lucky enough to watch him play, whether in the colours of Cambridge University, Nottingham, Wasps or England. Chris scored an impressive eight tries in just thirteen internationals, but may have helped himself to even greater pickings had he not suffered frequent and debilitating injuries. Oti's electric pace and change of direction were first on show at Cambridge University and it wasn't long before he caught the eye of the selectors. He eventually made his international debut in 1988 against Scotland, and in doing so became England's first black player since James Peters in 1908. England won the game 9-6, but failed to score any tries for the third consecutive Five Nations match. The final game of the Championship against Ireland saw Chris make his Twickenham debut and also help end his country's try drought in emphatic style.

After losing their popular captain Nigel Melville to a dislocated ankle, England played with skill and abandon in the second half to register six tries. Chris contributed three of those scores, and became the first England player to achieve the hat-trick since John Carleton in 1980. England's fans rejoiced in this unexpected try bonanza and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" was heard for the first time at Twickenham. Chris played in all four matches of the 1989 Five Nations where England finished joint second with Scotland, and then in a friendly with Romania he went one better than his Ireland haul by scoring four tries. His performances that year earned him a call up for the British Lions tour to Australia, but injuries prevented a serious challenge for the test team. After several more injury setbacks, the 1991 World Cup gave Oti a chance to kickstart his career. He was preferred to Nigel Heslop in England's opening match against New Zealand, but was ineffective and made just one more appearance in the defeat of Italy (see photo above) as a partner to Will Carling in the centres. (Jon Collins).