Born 19th May 1955. Height 5’ 11” and 14st. 10lbs. in his playing days.

Ex Launceston along with Graham Dawe. Plymouth Albion, Combined Services, Army, Cornwall, Somerset, South & South West, Bath Captain.

Roger’s first game for Bath was on 18th September 1979 v Seahawks (California), Home, Won 58-0. Team: N Hopkins, B Trevaskis, J Palmer, J Davies, D Wyatt, J Horton, D Murphy, D Butcher, B Kenny, G Chilcott, D Barry, S Jeffries, R Spurrell, S Jones, R Lye.

It was also a debut game for fellow Cornishman Barry Trevaskis. It turned out to be a mismatch against these American tourists. On a damp autumnal evening, Bath's try-hungry troops reduced them to shadows. Bath did almost as they liked and with forward dominance, Bath's talented backs had a field day.
Tries flowed from Derek Wyatt [now a Member of Parliament] (5), Barry Trevaskis (2), Damian Murphy, Gareth Chilcott (first senior try), Simon Jones and Robbie Lye, with talented John Davies converting seven.

Spurrell took up captaincy following injury to scrum-half Damian Murphy in September 1981.
Club record during this period:-

CUP SUCCESSES:-

28/4/84 v Bristol  *          10-9  JOHN PLAYER CUP WINNERS  
27/4/85 v London Welsh 24-15 JOHN PLAYER CUP WINNERS

* Coupled with the arrival of coach Jack Rowell, the Bath club was destined to move on to a period of unparallel Cup and League success.
Beating Bristol in the J.P. Final was just the start!

It is appropriate to record the team line-up heralding this momentous change in fortune:-
C R Martin, D M Trick, J A Palmer, A Rees, B Trevaskis, J P Horton, R J Hill, G J Chilcott, R Cunningham, M R Lee, N Gaymond, N C Redman, R A Spurrell (Captain), J P Hall and P D Simpson.

London Welsh squared up to Bath in Spurrell’s second visit to Twickenham. Bath fielded nine England Caps, with future internationals: Guscott, Sole and Egerton on the bench!

The final margin of nine points hardly did justice to Bath’s superiority.

The rampaging back row of Spurrell, Hall and Simpson pounced on any loose ball and all opposition was virtually blotted out. The opening try by David Trick was memorable, as he received a pass from Halliday and sped past his man in a scorching outside break. Chilcott added to his folk hero status, bundling over for his try after a pass from Hill. 

John Palmer converted two and landed four penalties. A beaming Spurrell attended to the post-match formalities.

Farewell game

8/10/1986 v South Wales Police, Home, Won 23-12. C Martin, A Swift, J Palmer, B Cundy, B Trevaskis, P Cue, C Stanley, D Sole, G Bess, R Lee, D Churchill, D Cronin, R Spurrell, N Maslen, P Simpson. Roger Spurrell captained the side, ending a colourful career stretching back over seven years.

Thus ended a meritorious association with the Bath club after 206 appearances, 17 tries and 68 points.

His successor – a young man of great promise – Andy Robinson!

Spurrell’s contribution to Club success was incalculable. It would be fair to attribute much of Bath's 'hard edge' to the influence of this ex paratrooper and his uncompromising attitude.

Off the field, his life was equally colourful: he was elsewhere listed as a shepherd and was also involved in diverse business ventures. Among the most memorable was his partnership with former stalwart Pete Heindorff in ownership of “The Island Club,” which was a late night drinking spot converted from a below ground city centre public convenience. To this day – locals refer to it as “Bog Island.” Fellow rugby players acted as part time bouncers to maintain a degree of order and exclusivity.

This was also the period for younger element ‘rave’ sessions and Roger was very much involved under the banner of “Universe.”

In 1995 he upgraded an old cafe in Polzeath, an area which attracts Cornwall’s surfing set. Presentation of ‘Sexy fish & chips’ is a menu theme. He now entrusts the day to day management of this and other expanding gastronomic facilities to his two sons.    

Peter Hall April 2006 ©