Stefan Czerpak

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Stefan Czerpak (born 1951), was a PE teacher and rugby union coach. He moved from Leicestershire to Newbury with his wife Jane and went on to have three sons, Jo, Sam and Jake.

Rugby union was Stefan's passion. He played from an early age, and went on to coach when his playing career ended. Stefan was a life long member of Newbury RFC [1], having represented them throughout his playing career and coached them through their rise up the national leagues, he also coached Reading RFC and Richmond RFC to name-but-a-few. Stefan helped to mould mini rugby in West Berkshire, which now has a big following and is hugely successful.

Following his success at Newbury RFC, he went on to coach the Great Britain national ladies rugby team, then onto assistant coach of the England Colts team and finally, the position of coach to the England Colts team.

Stefan became a PE teacher at Park House School, now Park House Sports College in 1973 and remained there until his death in 1998.

By 1998 Stefan was appointed England Colts coach and was to go on his first major overseas tour with them to Argentina in August 1998 (he had been on tour to Canada as assistant coach in 1995.)

On July 28 1998, a few weeks before he would have left for Argentina, he had a massive, fatal, heart attack on his way home from a workout at the gym. He was so passionate about rugby that his wife said 'he would have been more devastated about missing the tour to Argentina than dying'!

Stefan coached some fantastic rugby union players such as:-

Josh Lewsey, Joe Worsley, Trevor Woodman, Ben Kay, Phil Vickery, Phil Greening, Martin Wood, Ben Cohen, Lewis Moody, Tony Diprose, Mike Tindall and Andy Gomarsall - who made an appearance at the 2004 memorial match along with Ayoola Erinle. Tom Croft[1] is probably the last player to be coached by Stefan and make it to 'top flight rugby.' Stefan coached and taught Tom at Park House school.

Two annual, memorial matches are played in Stefan's memory. One at Newbury Rugby club and one at the Dubai 7's tournament. Both raise money and awareness for the British Heart Foundation [2][3]. Kenny Logan and Bob Skinstad both played in Stefan's memorial team - 'Stefan BHF' at Dubai 7's 2006 [4] tournament.

In addition to these two events, there is also another Memorial match played annually in memory of Stefan. The 'Stefan Czerpak Memorial Trophy, Colts divisional championship' - England rugby Trials.[5].