Nick Duncombe (January 21, 1982—February 14, 2003) was a promising English rugby union footballer who won two international caps before dying aged 21 of meningitis contracted while on what has erroneously been described as a warm-weather training trip to Spain with his club Harlequins. In reality, it was a short break, to Lanzarote, with his club colleague, Nathan Williams.
Duncombe, a scrum-half, also represented England in sevens at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. He was educated at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe.
Dan Luger, another established England international, was also due to be on the trip with Nick Duncombe, but was called into the England squad to play France at Twickenham.
A statue of Nick is displayed at Harlequins Twickenham home, The Stoop.
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“Only he who has had the good fortune to read them in the nick of time, in the most perceptive and recipient season of life, can give any adequate account of them.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)