It was a day of mixed emotions on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Weston-super-Mare RFC, with Ashley Russell setting a Club record of 462 games for the 1stXV and Chris Young making his 500th senior appearance in the United’s game at Castle Cary.
But it was somewhat overshadowed when news filtered through the previous evening that Club Trustee and former President – and a friend to countless people - Dr George Papworth had passed away in hospital surrounded by his family.
Russell led the Weston team onto the pitch before both sets of players lined up, as everyone in the ground observed a minute’s silence in memory of George, who had been associated with the club for many years.
“It has been a strange week as I have been preparing to set the new club record for first team appearances, Youngie reaching the 500 mark and the very sad news about George late on Friday evening,” said Russell.
“There are probably a lot of players in today’s line-up who didn’t really know George, but we’ll make sure that they do get to hear what a true clubman and gentleman he was, always wearing a smile.
“Lots of people were talking in the clubhouse before the game of their memories of George, and it is great that there is a big crowd here to pay their initial respects to someone who will really be missed.”
Russell made his debut for the 1stXV at the age of 19 playing at blindside flanker in the National League 3 South 14-5 home victory over Redruth in December 2002, having started his rugby career with Weston’s Under 9s.
He added: “Having played here at the Weston club from a young age and moving into the seniors, probably some of my oldest memories of George were him saying Grace at the club dinners or other important events.
“It would always bring a smile to your face even when you are at a dinner, and someone else says Grace; your mind would stray back to the ones that George did so impeccably, usually bringing a little chuckle from those present.
“It may be just a little thing, but George was such a gentleman, such a lovely bloke and hot just here at the rugby club – it was the same wherever you met him. He was a great pillar of the community.
“He was a very generous man, very kind and was someone who you could always sit down and have a chat with, especially over a glass of red wine. He always had some wise words and could bring a smile to your face with a quip or a funny story.”
Now that Russell has surpassed the 461 appearances made by wing Chris Brown between 1967 and 1995, does he plan to retire, or has he set himself a new target of 500 appearances?
He added: “Well, maybe not 500, but I haven’t got some target in my mind. If my kids want me to keep playing, I'm fit, I'm healthy, and I'm enjoying myself. I'll, you know, I'll play for the club; I love this club, so I'll play.
“It was a brilliant record that Chris has held since 1995, but I think that he still holds the try-scoring record for the first team. So that might be my next target. I think I'm a couple of 100s short, so that might be a tougher one.
“It’s nice that I have broken the record playing in a home game – I usually reach these milestones at games away. So nice that DC and Bamber did me the good turn earlier in the season.”
Chris Brown’s try-scoring record for the 1stXV stands at 284 tries, while Russell is on 46.
Photos HERE
