Tributes paid to Redruth's England captain Sharp

Richard Sharp (photographed in 1960) never forgot his roots in Redruth

Tributes from Cornwall have been paid to former England captain Richard Sharp who has died aged 87.

The fly-half won 14 caps for England, leading them to the 1963 Five Nations title.

In 1962 he toured with the British and Irish Lions to South Africa where he scored 45 points in 11 matches.

Sharp grew up in Redruth and made his name at the Cornish town's club before representing Wasps and Bristol.

"He never forgot his roots, I remember him always saying that no matter what changing room he went in around the world, the Redruth one meant the most to him," Redruth RFC president Dave Penberthy told BBC Radio Cornwall.

"He was the most humble man you'll ever meet, and he played some very, very good rugby at Wasps, at Bristol, but he always loved playing here and this club meant so much to him."

Sharp made his debut for Redruth as a 17-year-old and would return home from Oxford University to play for the club.

He also represented Cornwall's county side and the Barbarians during a much-vaunted career.

"In the '50s and the '60s when rugby was at its highest here, big crowds and everything, Richard was just the most elegant fly-half you'll ever see," added Penberthy, who was a ball boy in Sharp's final game in 1967 when he played for Cornwall in a County Championship semi-final replay at Redruth.

"He's probably named in many, many dream teams or all-time greats at number 10 and regularly was featured alongside the likes of Jonny Wilkinson as being the best fly-off ever to play for England."