Nigel MELVILLE

Nigel Melville - England - International Rugby Union Caps for England.

Photo/Foto: George Herringshaw

Date: 06 February 1988

Click on image to enlarge

    • POSITION
      Scrum Half
    • DATE OF BIRTH
      Friday, 06 January 1961
    • PLACE OF BIRTH
      Leeds, England.
  • INTERNATIONAL
  • England
    • CAREER DATES
      1984-1988
    • Debut
      Saturday, 3rd November 1984 v Australia (Twickenham) lost 19-3
      (Aged: 23)
    • Final Appearance
      19/3/1988 v Ireland (Twickenham) won 35-3 (FN)
    • Total Caps
      13
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Nigel MELVILLE - England - International Rugby Union Caps for England.

1984 v Australia (Twickenham) L 19-3

 

1985 v Ireland (Dublin) L 13-10 (FN)
1985 v Wales (Cardiff) L 24-15 (FN)
1985 v New Zealand (Christchurch) L 18-13

1985 v New Zealand (Wellington) L 42-15

 

1986 v Wales (Twickenham) W 21-18 (FN)
1986 v Scotland (Murrayfield) L 33-6 (FN)
1986 v Ireland (Twickenham) W 25-20 (FN)

1986 v France (Paris) L 29-10 (FN)

 

1988 v France (Paris) L 10-9 (FN)
1988 v Wales (Twickenham) L 11-3 (FN)
1988 v Scotland (Murrayfield) W 9-6 (FN)
1988 v Ireland (Twickenham) W 35-3 (FN)

Career Record: P13, W4, L9
Test Points: 0

(R) = Replacement

 

 

 

 

This picture of Nigel Melville was taken on 16th January 1988 by George Herringshaw.  ©

  

 Nigel Melville was a highly gifted scrum-half who probably never fulfilled his true potential thanks to injury and an inconsistent selection policy. A loyal servant of the Wasps club, Nigel had one of the best passes in the game and his leadership qualities earned him the England captaincy on no fewer than three separate occasions. A 23 year old Nigel was first made captain on his debut against Australia at Twickenham in 1984, a match which saw England lose to the Wallabies at home for the first time since 1967. The following year veteran centre Paul Dodge was given the captaincy, but Nigel played in four tests, including two on tour in New Zealand. For the 1986 season Melville was again made captain, but it was a mixed Five Nations for England and included a record 33-6 hammering by Scotland.

 

Nigel was dropped altogether in 1987 thanks to the reappearance of Richard Hill and he missed out on the subsequent World Cup where Richard Harding deputised after Hill's suspension. Melville was back in the side for the 1988 Five Nations and resumed the captaincy for a third time when incumbent skipper Mike Harrison was dropped following a heavy defeat by Wales. Nigel led his men to triumph over Scotland at Murrayfield, but then suffered a serious ankle injury in the next game against Ireland at Twickenham. The Wasps scrum-half was carried off with his team down 3-0, but watched as England scored 35 points in the second half to register a most unlikely victory. The injury was enough to finish Melville's international career after just 13 caps, but he continued to play for Wasps for some years afterwards. In retirement Nigel moved upstairs and enjoyed successful spells as a coach and administrator at Wasps and Gloucester. (Jon Collins)