Alama Ieremia breaks through the tackles Adedayo Adebayo and Justin Marshall during New Zealand Barbarians' win at Twickenham © Getty Images

Enlarge

2002

Wayne Shelford, coaching Saracens, continued his attacks on English rugby and his own players after losing 36-32 to Harlequins at The Stoop. "I've got guys who wouldn't make the Super-12 sides in New Zealand," he moaned. Mark Evans, the Quins chief executive, snapped back: "I don't buy this rubbish. A lot of Super-12 players have come over here and been garbage."

1996
England went down 19-34 to the New Zealand Barbarians in front of 73,000 at Twickenham in a game staged to mark 125 years of the Rugby Football Union … but the newspapers all reflected on a missed chance after England had led 19-13. "The quality of the New Zealanders' passing, the lines of their running and the accuracy of their work with the ball, whether by foot or through the hand, was in stark contrast to England's sometimes woeful waywardness," wrote Chris Rea in the Independent. "Neither Mike Catt nor Andy Gomarsall appeared to have much idea of where to place the ball with their defensive kicking."

2001
Warren Gatland resigned as Ireland coach after contract talks broke down. He was immediately replaced by backs coach Eddie O'Sullivan.

1999
European Cup organisers said there would be no retreating from their hard-line policy towards violent play after four players were banned for between 15 and 21 days for incidents the previous weekend. Earlier in the season Colomiers prop Richard Nones was banned for two years for gouging.

1996
South Africa, under the captaincy of Gary Teichmann, beat France 22-12 with tries from James Small and André Joubert at Parc Lescure in Bordeaux. Fly-half Henry Honniball weighed in with four penalties while all France's points came from the boot of winger Richard Dourthe.

2002
Leicester's run of 57 home matches without defeat was ended by Northampton. Martin Johnson, Leicester's skipper, admitted the loss had been coming for some time. "It is worrying playing like that. Everyone has to take a look at themselves. It could have happened before now with some of our performances lately. We've all enjoyed the good times, now we all have to dig ourselves out of this."

1963
Spluttering in Twickenham as two Rosslyn Park players revealed they had been approached by Salford Rugby League Club to switch codes. John Hampton told the Daily Mirror: "I was offered £2500 and asked to play a trial under an assumed name." Frank Ainscough said: "Nothing would induce me to go north."

1974
Willie-John McBride led the Barbarians to a 13-13 draw against the All Blacks at Twickenham. The Barbarians selected the same forward pack that had featured for the British & Irish Lions in their famous series victory over South Africa earlier the same year and they duly grabbed a share of the spoils to prevent the All Blacks recording a clean sweep by winning all eight of their tour matches.

1912
For the first time in Test history a referee was forced to retire hurt during a match. Mr Jack strained a muscle and was replaced by former Irish international Fred Gardiner during South Africa's 38-0 defeat of Ireland at Lansdowne Road.

1935
Ulster enjoyed their finest hour against a New Zealand team holding the Third All Blacks to a 3-all draw at Ravenhill in Belfast.

1958
Tommy Vile, who played his first international in 1904 (for the Lions) and his last in 1921 (for Wales), and who refereed many international matches between the wars, died aged 76.