ONE of the more remarkable Eastbourne College alumni was Danny Lambert, the England wing who got dropped after scoring five tries on his debut against France in 1907. A big man for the time, he made a name for himself in the backs and was something of an early Jonah Lomu.
He joined Quins and was a stalwart member of the A team pack during his first season. He then attended a club trial game early in the September before his second season and at one point he covered across to cut down the Quins skipper and England star Andre Stoop who seemed certain to score in the corner
A famous quickfire exchange ensued:
“Who the hell was that?” enquired Stoop as he picked himself up.
“That was Lambert the A Team forward, sir.”
“Well, he's the first team wing now,” replied Stoop.
And in that instant his career trajectory changed, He was soon scoring hatfuls of tries on the wing for Stoop's Quins side and in 1907 was drafted into the England team to play France at Richmond Athletic Ground
Lambert, below, obliged with five tries with the Times commenting, “D. Lambert did the actual scoring with almost unerring accuracy.”
Despite his record haul Lambert was dropped – who can fathom the minds of selectors? – but it wasn't personal. England chose four different wings in his place in the next four games!
Lambert was in and out of the team for another couple of seasons and enjoyed another red letter day against the French, at Twickenham in 1911 when he garnered a then record 22 points – two tries, five conversions and two penalties, a personal record which stood until Simon Hodgkinson passed it in 1990 against Argentina.
Lambert played football for Corinthian Casuals and was also a scratch golfer.
The French match was Lambert's last but one game, his maverick talents were never truly trusted. He joined up the moment World War 1 was declared and, like so many others, a singular life was extinguished in the mud of Flanders, at the Battle of Loos on October 13, 1915.
