Charles Garfield Woodruff (30 October 1920 – 1 November 2019) was an English international rugby union player.

Peter Woodruff
Full nameCharles Garfield Woodruff
Date of birth(1920-10-30)30 October 1920
Place of birthNewport, Wales
Date of death1 November 2019(2019-11-01) (aged 99)
Place of deathLeicester, England
SchoolNewport High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1951 England 4 (0)

Born and raised in Newport, Wales, Woodruff was known as "Peter" to his family, but also went by the name "Charlie". He enlisted in the Royal Air Force after finishing school, reaching the rank of flight lieutenant. In World War II, Woodruff flew Dakotas during the Normandy landings that dropped paratroopers over France.[1]

Woodruff got recruited by Harlequins while playing for the London Civil Service. He was a Welsh trialist, but gained his four international caps for England, featuring on the wing in all four of their 1951 Five Nations fixtures, before losing his place to Ted Woodward.[2] Other than England, Woodruff also made representative appearances for Barbarians, Gloucestershire, Kent, London Counties and Western Counties. He last played for Harlequins at the age of 42.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Schofield, Daniel (4 December 2019). "Remarkable Harlequins loyalist Peter Woodruff even kept his MBE secret". The Daily Telegraph.
  2. ^ "The Wing Position". Western Mail. 27 January 1950.
  3. ^ "CG Woodruff, England's oldest surviving rugby international – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 29 November 2019.
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