On Saturday, Sam Arnold (East 2014) became the second OC to represent Ireland at rugby when he came on at half-time in his side’s 57-14 win over USA.
Sam was captain of Cranleigh’s 1st XV in 2014 and on leaving he joined Ulster on a professional contract. After two years with the province he moved to Munster and carried on his progression. He was part of a School team which has produced Oxbridge Blues as well as other professional rugby players.
In the same week that saw Sam capped, current 1st XV captain Hayden Hyde was selected in the Ireland Under-19 squad to play Australia in two weeks’ time. Both Sam and Hayden play in the centre and one day could line up alongside each other in the famous green jersey.
“Wearing the green jersey is something I’ve been dreaming of for a while,” he said after the game. “I’ve seen some of the guys I’ve played with in the Under-20s do it and to wear a full senior jersey today was incredible. I spent a lot of my time in Wexford when I was younger with my grandparents and my mum as well and their love of rugby came on to me.”
Clive Wallis was the first OC to play for Ireland, his only cap coming against the All Blacks in 1935. He is the eighth Cranleighan to play for one of the home nations and only the second in the past 60 years, following Will Collier’s two appearances for England in 2017.