Cap presentation delights referee six decades later
Johnny Johnson was a leading referee for almost a decade in the 1960s and 70s, taking charge of Five Nations matches and All Blacks Tests but, in common with other match officials of the time, he was never awarded a cap for all his work at the top level of the game.
RFU President, Jeff Blackett, decided that this was a situation that should be rectified and, having ensured the caps were made and embroidered, has arranged an event at Twickenham to present caps to referees who have officiated at matches between two Tier 1 countries.
Johnny, however, is 91 and lives with his wife Isobel in Troon, Scotland, so Jeff and his wife Sally recently made the trip north to present Johnny’s cap and delight him and his family.
Having earned his rugby colours as a schoolboy prop at Skinners School in Tunbridge Wells, as a talented forward Johnny completed National Service with the Royal Corps of Signals, representing both the Corps and the Army. He then joined the Metropolitan Police and captained their first team as well as captaining London Counties and Kent.
When playing for London Counties v the Springboks, he led players from both teams on a rumbustious night around Soho, pursued by police cars for disturbing the peace but hidden by the foot patrols. They all ended up gaining asylum in a police section house in the early hours.
Johnny missed out on England trials through injury and decided to take up the whistle with the London Society. His skills were quickly recognised with promotion to the International Panel.
His first Test in charge was France v Romania in the South of France and he went on to referee France v Ireland in Paris. France featured a lot in Johnny’s refereeing career. When running touch at Twickenham for England v Wales in 1970, the French referee, Robert Calmet broke his leg and Johnny had to take over, meaning that he refereed all five countries in the Five Nations.
He refereed the Springboks, Wallabies, and the All Blacks on several occasions, the most memorable earning him Welsh fans’ resentment when in Cardiff he disallowed a J P R Williams try and New Zealand won.
On one occasion, when due to referee a Test in Dublin, the flight was cancelled. Johnny eventually managed to arrive in Belfast and hitched a lift to Dublin, arriving just three hours before taking charge of the match.
When rugby relations between England and Australia were at a low point, he spent a month lecturing and refereeing in Australia to standardise interpretation of the laws.
At his cap presentation, wearing his RFU blazer and tie, he happily told anecdotes of his refereeing days.
Jeff Blackett said: “It was a real privilege for Sally and me to visit Johnny in his home, meet his family and remember his time in the middle as one of the great referees from England.”
Said Johnny’s daughter Sue Riley: “Dad loved the occasion. His wife Isobel and his family members were so grateful for the huge effort made by Jeff and Sally in making sure he got his cap and coming so far to present it.
“The event will live long in our family history, it was a phenomenal day and gave younger members of the family the chance to discover his achievements as a top rugby referee. He spoke about the rugby family and for all of us there, the joy that getting his cap gave to my father illustrated the rugby family at its best.”
