Bill Beaumont was born in Preston in 1952. Starting his career as a full-back at Ellesmere College, he developed into one of the greatest lock forwards the game has seen, winning 34 caps for his country, and captaining them to the 1980 Grand Slam. He also toured with the British Lions, once as captain. He retired from the game n 1982 and is now a rugby broadcaster and analyst for BBC TV and successful after-dinner speaker.
Jeff Green is a sports journalist on the Manchester Evening News.