AYLESBURY RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB

Gary made his Englend debut in 1979

Gary with his finalists trophy for Pilkington Cup in 1991

RFU England Tour Team 1979-80 to Japan, Fiji and Tonga 

Aylesbury 1^st XV Bucks Cup Winners 1974

Back Row – N. Griffiths, J. Spratt, D. Sedge, G. Rawlings, D. Gatherer, M. Plant, S. Newstead, J. Baylis.

Front Row – D. Dunn, A.N.Other, M. Banks, G. Pearce, C. Lee, A.N.Other, I. White, A. Kirk.

Club Legend: Gary Pearce – England’s Most Capped Prop

Clubs: Aylesbury, Northampton Saints, and England

Place of birth: Dinton (later moving to Stone)

Position: Prop

England Career

Gary made his England debut against Scotland in 1979, playing in all of the Five Nations matches that year alongside fellow greats of the game including Bill Beaumont and Roger Uttley. In the newspapers just before his debut, Gary was quoted as saying, “I owe a great deal to my old club Aylesbury.”

His international career spanned 12 years until his final match in 1991, making him a mainstay of the England pack throughout the 1980s. In total, he collected 36 caps—at the time making him England's most-capped prop. He represented England in 27 Five Nations matches, 4 matches across two World Cups (1987 and 1991), and 5 standalone tests against New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, and Argentina. And, in true old-school front-row fashion, he finished his international career without ever scoring a point for England.

Northampton Saints

Gary Pearce joined Northampton Saints in 1978 on a four-match trial from Aylesbury and stayed until 1996. He became one of only six players in club history to reach the 400-appearance milestone, finishing with 411 first-team games. As a technically skilled tighthead prop, he anchored the scrum throughout the amateur era. Appointed club captain in 1989, Pearce led the Saints to promotion back to the top flight and captained them in the 1991 Pilkington Cup Final at Twickenham. His performances earned him consecutive Supporters' Player of the Year awards in 1990 and 1991, cementing his place in the club's Hall of Fame.

Coming Home

Gary returned to our Club as a player and 1st XV Coach following his time at the Saints. To quote one well-known member: "It was one of the greatest privileges of my life to have played alongside him." Gary remains a proud supporter of Aylesbury Rugby Football Club—if you get a chance to meet him at the club, make sure to say hello.

Gary donated a Northampton jersey and a complete set of international jerseys to the Club

Club letter congratulating Gary on his selection for England

Gary’s first season was 1973/74 when the Club won the Bucks Cup in Feb 74. He played in the first part of that season when he was just 17

Gary feeding to Peter Kingston at scrumhalf against Ireland at Lansdowne Road

Smile for the camera Gary!

Helena Rowland – Aylesbury, Loughborough Lightning and England

Age:  27

Position:  Center & utility back

Club:  Began her rugby career aged six at Aylesbury RFC, before playing at both Tring and Bicester RFC.

The sporting endeavours of her family may have been an early indicator of her natural ability, with her mum Lisa representing her county in athletics and brother Dan playing for Bath University’s 1st XV, Wasps U18 and Esher 1st XV.

England career:  Represented England U20s in their three games at the start of 2018.  Senior debut came in November 2020 in England’s fixture against Italy in the Grand Slam Six Nations campaign. Featured in the Red Roses squad that reached the final of the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, and in the title-winning squad that returned for the inaugural WXV1 tournament in 2023.

On 17 March 2025, she was named in England's squad for the Women's Six Nations Championship.  

Rowland was part of John Mitchell's 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup-winning squad, who made history last year when they lifted the trophy in front of a record-breaking crowd of nearly 82,000 - the highest ever attendance at a women's rugby match.  Rowland scored 27 points against Samoa in the pool stages, she converted 11 of her side's 14 tries, including her own. It is the most points scored by an England player in a Women's World Cup.

Helena was part of the 2026 Season Six Nations coming back after an operation.  She started at 12 in the match against Ireland and was supported walking out onto the pitch by one of the Red Roses mascots - our very own Frankie from the ARFC Under 9s!

Mark Rose - Wasps, Eastern Subarbs, Sydney, Aylesbury RFC, England

Date of birth:  19th June 1961

Position:  No 8

At Aylesbury Rugby Club, we’re incredibly proud to count Mark Rose among our former players. A fierce and talented No. 8, Mark came through the ranks at Aylesbury before going on to represent Wasps and earn international honours with England.

From a young age, it was clear Mark had something special. His physicality, intelligence on the pitch, and natural leadership made him stand out in the back row. His time at Aylesbury laid the foundation for a career that would see him play at the very highest level.

Mark became a mainstay in the Wasps pack during the 1980s (176 appearances), where his aggressive ball-carrying and tireless work around the park earned him widespread respect. He was soon called up to represent England.

Samuel Frederick Jones - Aylesbury, Wasps, England U16, U18 & U20

DOB:  15 December 1991

Schools:  Aylesbury Grammar School and King's College London growing up in the village of Weedon

Career:  Played rugby for England U-16, U-18 and U-20, and Wasps RFC in the Aviva Premiership. In 2013 he was called up to the Barbarian's team to play England and the British & Irish Lions.

Premature end to his career:  On 30 September 2016 Jones was called up to the senior England squad by coach Eddie Jones for the Autumn Internationals.  However, while training with England he suffered multiple leg injuries in a judo session, which ruled him out of the Tests and led to his retirement in March 2018.

Grant Seely - Aylesbury, Saints, England U21

Position:  Forward

Career:  Attended Aylesbury Grammar School, played for Aylesbury Rugby Club and the University of Northampton before becoming a Professional Rugby player with Northampton Saints for 15 years and over 250 games. Retired in 2006 to work for four years as an Academy Coach, before moving to the education sector taking up the position of Head of Rugby at Magdalen College School Oxford for eight years before joining Stowe School as Director of Rugby.

Represented England at Under-21

James Buckland

DOB:  21 December 1981

Position:  Hooker

Playing Career:  Born in Aylesbury went to school at SHFGS.  Played at Aylesbury as a junior.  Began his career at Leicester Tigers in 2002. After 5 years and over 65 appearances for the club, Buckland left to join London Wasps where he spent a year before linking up with London Irish.

England:  Represented England at both under 21 and Saxons level.

Coaching:  After playing he moved into coaching where he took both London Scottish and London Welsh into the Top 4 of the Championship before taking up a 3 year deal at Rosslyn Park.  Ealing Tralfinders announced Buckland as their head coach ahead of the 2018/19 season.  Has coached Aylesbury from 2023 to 2025.

Connor Eastgate – Aylesbury Rugby Club, Wasps, Scotland U18/U20

DOB: 7 October 1997

Position:  As a younger player - 12. At 17/18 at Wasps fly-half and played there since.

Place of birth:  Ramstein, Germany - dad was in the RAF and was based there

Start:  Started playing tag at Aylesbury Rugby Club when he was eight and moved up with them until he was 14.  Joined the academy programme at Wasps. He played in their age-group sides and signed.

International Career:  Scotland U18s and U20s. The U20 World Cup.

Solomon Shand – Aylesbury, Gloucester Rugby (2023 - 2024), Montpellier Hérault Rugby (2024 - 2025) and England U18

Age:  18

Position:  Back Row

England career:  Solomon was an Aylesbury RFC player who came up through the minis to U16.  He represented England U18s during the International Series that took place in South Africa in 2023.

Johnny Howard - Aylesbury, Saints, Aviron Bayonnais, Pays d'Aix RC, Beziers Herault

Position:  Scrum-half

Career:  First played rugby aged seven at Aylesbury Rugby Club. In 1998, he joined Northampton Saints Rugby Academy, and in the next ten years appeared for the club as a scrum-half and occasionally on the wing. In 2008, he moved to France and played for Aviron Bayonnais.  In 2009, he moved again to Pays d'Aix RC and, in 2010, to AS Béziers Hérault, for whom he played until his retirement from professional rugby in 2013. He was in the squad that won promotion to Pro D2 in 2010.