From The Vaults

However, it was while he was playing rugby in particular that he developed a comic sporting character who entertained by the use of jerky movements. According to one source he "cracked up" fellow players when he did this. According to another he almost became a full time professional but was so encouraged by his success at the annual Racing 92 revues that in his mid-20s he decided to take his comic antics a step further and took his amusing sporting characterisations into the Music Halls.

He was again called up for military service in 1939, but following the end of the Second World War, he began his long and successful career in film.

In 1974, when asked about his early life, he said that he had played "rugger" most Sundays until he was 22 and would "put on a little pantomime" for the team afterwards.

I'm sure players past and present have come across their own local rugby playing Jacques Tati during their careers. If you haven't seen any of his films yet, there are some on YouTube and they are certainly worth watching!

About the Author - Keith Gregson is a Sunderland-based semi-retired freelance writer, historian and musician. He has written numerous books about the history of sport including 'One Among Many', 'Sporting Ancestors' and 'Australia in Sunderland'. Details of his work can be found at keithgregson.com and his books can be purchased from Amazon.