Obituary: Roger Lloyd

A strong centre noted for his tackling and a prolific point scorer, he was one of a dwindling number of players who represented the club during the late 1940s.

Roger Shapcott Lloyd was educated at Bristol Grammar School. During the last rugby season of the Second World War he was capped by English Public Schools, playing against Welsh Secondary Schools at Neath in April 1945. He scored a conversion and a penalty in his side’s 28-11 defeat. He went on to play for Old Bristolians, and in the 1947-48 season he made his Bristol United debut, scoring two tries in his three appearances.

Roger made his Bristol first team debut at Penzance & Newlyn in October 1948, scoring a try in a 14-10 victory. He played 14 first team matches during this season, and was awarded his Bristol United cap. When Bristol lost 14-3 at Cardiff in January 1949, Roger was acclaimed by the 20,000 crowd for his fearless tacking of star Welsh centre Dr Jack Matthews.

The following season, 1949-50, was Roger’s most successful for the first team. In 21 games he scored six tries, as well as kicking two conversions and dropping a goal. His two tries and two conversions were the main reason that a weakened first team selection defeated Newbridge 13-3 on Easter Tuesday. He played a further 14 matches in 1950-51, and he was awarded his Bristol first team cap at the end of the season.

Roger played on the wing as well as at centre for Bristol, but in the 1951-52 season he switched to the back row. In Bristol’s victory at Exeter that season he kicked an extraordinary penalty goal. The ball struck the crossbar, rose vertically and struck the bar again on its descent before bouncing over for a successful goal.  Roger played his final first team match against Newbridge on Boxing Day 1951. In all he made 55 first team appearances, scoring 63 points, with an additional 49 Bristol United matches yielding 132 points. He was selected three times for Gloucestershire, playing in a friendly against Glamorgan at Aberavon, and in County Championship matches against Devon at Exeter and Berkshire at Newbury.

Roger Lloyd retired from rugby to concentrate on passing his law exams. He went on to practise as a solicitor, but he maintained his love of the game and enjoyed keeping in touch with his fellow former players. He attended reunions and enjoyed receiving the Bristol Former Players’ newsletter. All at Bristol Bears send their sincere sympathy to Roger’s family at this sad time.