An Amberley man is believed to be England's oldest living rugby international, and received a call from current captain Owen Farrell ahead of Saturday's Six Nations match with Wales.

John Vincent Smith, known as JV, made his England debut against Wales in 1950, in what was then the Five Nations.

His try was not enough for England on the day, who suffered an 11-5 defeat.

England finished bottom of the table that year despite JV contributing four tries in total, a championship record that would stand for the next 30 years.

JV's performance in the tournament was enough to earn him a place on that year's British Lions tour of New Zealand.

However, he was not granted permission to suspend his agriculture studies at the University of Cambridge and decided to continue with his degree rather than take the long journey to New Zealand by boat.

JV, a former Marling student, went to Cambridge on a special forces scholarship after joining the Parachute Regiment at the end of the Second World War.

While he did not see active service, JV did fracture his spine during a training exercise.

His son Peter said it was a 'miracle' his father was able to play rugby at all.

As well as England JV represented his university, the Barbarians, Stroud and Rosslyn Park, playing either at centre or on the wing.

A shoulder injury did eventually cut JV's playing days short and he went into rugby administration, representing Gloucestershire on the RFU Committee before becoming president of the RFU in 1982/3.

The 94-year-old is still a huge rugby fan and enjoyed speaking to Owen Farrell about differences in their experiences playing for England.

In JV's day the national side did not have a coach and nor were there any substitutions.

One thing that has not changed is England's tendency to struggle against the Welsh, with Farrell's side well beaten on Saturday just as JV's team were 71 years ago.