MARLOW Rugby Club can now count a European champion among their old boys after Nick Kennedy lifted the Heineken Cup on Saturday.
The 31-year-old second row was part of the Toulon side that ground their way to a tightly-fought 16-15 victory over fellow French side Clermont Auvergne.
Among the crowd at Dublin's Aviva Stadium to see the match were Kennedy's parents Shaun and Jill - who had had to hope and pray their son would even take his place at number five.
Shaun said: "He was concussed the week before and we weren't sure he'd even play. It was tight, but he made it, and we went on the chance he would play.
"I'm an optimist but I was still very, very worried but it worked out.
"In his first match for England he got a try, which I was pretty excited about, but to see his little face light up when he got his medal was incredible. He was a very happy bunny.
"He's had loads of messages on Twitter. There's hundreds of well dones and some cryptic comments. There's lots of support from relations, friends, old players, coaches. It's a big deal to win the European Cup."
Reflecting on the game - won after England's World Cup winning hero Jonny Wilkinson kicked three penalties and a conversion - he added: "Clermont lost out tactically. They got confused and made too many changes, whereas we defended like mad."
Despite cutting his rugby teeth at Marlow and Claires Court School in Maidenhead, it wasn't until later in life that Kennedy thought seriously about taking the game up on a professional basis.
His dad said: "He didn't really get seriously into it until he was at university in Portsmouth. He played for Bucks U18 once or twice but he was also quite a good rower.
"He was very interested in other sports. He went to university, captained the team and thought he'd try it as a career.
"In the early days he was tall and gangly. He beefed up a bit and got stronger and realised he could be good. He was always very fast so was never sure which position to play, until he was put into the second row."
A move to Toulon came last summer after a decade with London Irish - but wherever he's been he's stayed close to his Marlow roots.
Shaun said: "He still supports Marlow. He goes down to watch the first team and still has mates in the second team. He comes home regularly.
"It was a big move to Toulon. He went there to try to win something. London Irish came close a few times [losing a Premiership final and a Heineken Cup semi final] so it was a risk."
