The Judge was one of the best in the game

TRP columnist Jeff Probyn recalls good times with his great friend Paul Rendall

Paul built a reputation as a fierce loosehead prop at Slough RFC before joining Wasps in 1976. He was selected to tour with England in 1984 to South Africa where he was chosen for the first time as the Judge for the players' court.

Judge was so good at delivering the humour and punishments, beer drinking, new nicknames etc. that help in the team building which is required for teams on tour that he was retained as Judge for all future sessions.

He also took that position for Wasps on our pre-season tours to France where he enthralled not only us but the French, often having the local band parading in the streets ahead of his court sessions.

He became a regular in the England team, winning 28 caps and playing in five successive Five Nations championships and two World Cups – 1987 and 1991 – along with many tours and courts.

The Judge's playing career was ended by an injury that occurred during England training for the 1991 RWC final against an automatic scrum machine which tore his Achilles.

As a player Paul was recognised as one of the best props in the scrum but he was the best lineout prop in the world which became apparent when he played for the World XV in South Africa in 1989 as the first thing the other forwards from Australia, France, Wales etc. asked was, ‘Are we all right in the lineout Judge?'

At the club he was instrumental in getting me to join in his hope that Wasps would become the Pontypool of England, supplying the front row for the England national side.

Off the pitch he was renowned for his capacity to drink and was often the last man standing at the bar after a game!

And he would always take the young players under his wing to guide them on their way. When a young Gareth Rees missed the coach with the Judge after a Wasps game in Cardiff, we all waited back at the club for their return. As the taxi arrived, out jumped Gareth who said, ‘I went to Cardiff a boy but thanks to the Judge I've come back a man!'

When his playing days were over, he took to coaching at Slough and then Bracknell before finally calling it a day and then set up the Front Row Union Club with me to help raise funds for injured players.

Judge is one of the greats of the game at all levels and will always be remembered by those who were lucky enough to share the field with him.

As a friend there are a privileged few who have been lucky enough to share his life with him and I count myself as one.