A rugby-playing family from Warlingham has this week discovered that they have made sporting history - by being the only family in which four generations have had the honour of playing on the hallowed turf of Twickenham stadium.

The discovery was made after the latest generation - Matt Foulds - was presented with the Surrey's under-17 Player of the Year award in a ceremony at the stadium which has been the headquarters of English rugby for nearly a century.

Foulds, a sixth form pupil at Caterham School, is carrying on family traditions in a number of ways: at 6ft 4in tall, he plays No8 for Warlingham and Surrey, and the 17-year-old will be the captain of his club's Academy this season.

Both Matt's father, Steve, and his grandfather, Dave, were forwards who captained Warlingham in their time and went on to play representative rugby at Twickenham.

Matt's great-grandfather, Roy Foulds, won the first of his two England caps as a prop forward against Wales in 1929.

Pride of place in the Foulds household is a picture of Roy shaking hands before that game with the then Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VIII.

Alongside it is a picture display that shows Matt and his brother, Adam, their medals around their necks, with their proud father and grandfather after the boys had played in a tournament at "HQ".

According to Michael Rowe, the curator at the Rugby Football Union Museum, he can find no record of any other family matching the Fouldses' four generations of players at Twickenham.

"We have played rugby at this stadium since 1910, and we believe this to be a unique achievement," Rowe said.

"We'd be astonished if any other family could rack up four generations of players at Twickenham."

Matt has been a member of Warlingham since playing mini rugby at under-7 level. He and his brother Adam both played at Twickenham in 2001 when their age group teams battled through to the finals of a national mini-rugby tournament.

Unlike his father and forefathers, Matt Foulds is able to consider rugby as a career option now.

"Matt would really like to play rugby professionally," Steve, his father, said.

"Being at the Surrey presentation at Twickenham and seeing the boys from the older age group go up to receive their England caps was a real inspiration for him."

Rugby has always been a family affair for the Foulds: England international Roy Foulds was president of Warlingham in 1970-72, while his son, Dave, was club captain.

Dave Foulds and his twin brother, Robin, both played for the Hamsey Green club. Dave was a tough second-row forward who went on to play for Rosslyn Park, including a match against fierce rivals Harlequins at Twickenham in 1965.

Dave's sons, Steve and Mark, both played for Warlingham. Steve, now 45 and a bond trader in the City, was also recruited to play at Rosslyn Park. According to Peter Winterbottom, the former Leicester, England and British Lions forward, Steve Foulds "was one of the hardest players I've ever played against".

Steve Foulds, too, was picked to play for Surrey, and made regular appearances at Twickenham, including national cup finals, between 1985 and 1990.

The Twickenham Museum curator, meanwhile, is keen to hear of any family connections that can match, or perhaps, better the Fouldses' achievements.

"We all knew about the family rugby history, but we had no idea it was any sort of record," Steve Foulds said, "so we are both surprised and delighted."

Can your family lay claim to this record? Click here to let us know your story!