The sun sets on a balmy August evening at Kineton Sports & Social Club as George Hendy sips a dubious pint and discusses his impressive sporting achievements this summer.
“We drink Carling here,” says Hendy, the promising Northampton player and hero of their Premiership title win last season. “Those are the rules.” Okay then.
Fortunately, Hendy’s prowess on the field is better than his drink selection at the bar. Not only is he one of the brightest young talents in English rugby, he’s also a more than adept cricketer.
The 21-year-old has followed up his stunning substitute appearance at what is now Twickenham with a string of impressive performances at the willow for Kineton Cricket Club.
Playing in the Cotswolds League with the blessing of his employers, Hendy last month plundered a stunning 200 not out with 20 fours and nine sixes. The second half of Hendy’s double century came from just 38 balls. Norton Lindsey & Wolverton’s bowlers didn’t know what hit them.
George Hendy proved himself to be one of England’s ultimate all-rounders after following up his Premiership title-winning display by scoring 200 for Kineton Cricket Club
Northampton Saints star Hendy was given the blessing of his employers to play in the Cotswolds League – where he achieved a stunning 200 not out with 20 fours and nine sixes
The 21-year-old Hendy is regarded as one of the brightest talents in English rugby
Hendy sat down with Mail Sport’s Alex Bywater (left) to discuss his adventures in the cricket world
“It was quite a special day and one of those days where everything went just right. The ball went a long way,” says Hendy, a smile on his face as he recalls his mammoth innings.
‘I’ll always be able to say I’ve scored a double century now, but for me winning the Premier League was a matter of three years, not one day.
‘I think I have to say that was the biggest achievement!
‘All the lads my age at Saints didn’t give a damn about cricket. A couple of them came to watch me play one weekend and I scored four! I told them that happens… and they said I was s***!’
In an age where the pressures of professional sport can limit characters and prevent players from expressing their personalities, Hendy is a refreshing throwback to a bygone era.
“My parents still live there,” he says, gesturing across the Kineton outfield. “The club is a second home to me. I know everyone here and the same goes for Shipston, my rugby club growing up. I’ve played cricket at Kineton since I was about 11 and have always played both sports.
‘I started playing men’s cricket when I was 14 when there was no one else to play for the first team. They threw the kids in! It’s really refreshing for me to be able to come back here in the off-season and play with my mates most weekends and have a laugh. We play cricket, catch up and have a few beers.
‘I think it’s important to realise how much your grassroots clubs have done for you. I would be foolish to forget that.’
Hendy said the Kineton club is ‘a second home to me – I’ve been playing there since I was 11’
Hendy will play for Northampton against Bath in the Premiership final in June
Three years ago, Hendy was playing for Shipston’s Under-18 rugby team. He had been cut by the academy at the now defunct Worcester but was snapped up by Northampton straight away. ‘Shipston was probably the most fun I ever had playing rugby, just messing around with all my mates – a bit like I do with cricket now,’ says Hendy.
Hendy isn’t the only good cricketer at Northampton. England fullback George Furbank knows how to hold a bat and attack coach Sam Vesty is a fine player.
The cricket match between the Saints and their players is known as a fierce, competitive affair.
Hendy is now a regular at first-team level for Northampton. Their 2023-24 title-winning season was Hendy’s breakthrough campaign as he made a big impact, often coming on as a substitute on the wing or at full-back. Two tries in the Champions Cup last 16 victory over Munster announced Hendy to a wider audience. Then came his pièce de résistance.
As Northampton struggled to eliminate Bath with 14 men in the Premiership final, Hendy rose again to have his say with seven minutes remaining on the clock.
Hendy’s pace took him past England midfielder Ollie Lawrence and a number of other tired Bath tacklers, setting up a decisive score for Alex Mitchell.
After that, the expectations were over and Hendy and Northampton celebrated long and hard.
He added: ‘I was in my kit for three days! I did some media straight after the final whistle and I remember being told I was player of the match. I couldn’t believe it.
‘I was only on the pitch for 35 minutes! My first thought was, “What am I doing here?” When we got back to the locker rooms, I was still in my kit and we were told we had 10 minutes before the bus left. I decided not to shower and kept my kit on.
Looking back on his 200, Hendy said it was ‘one of those times where everything went perfectly’
The 21-year-old admitted his Northampton Saints teammates have little interest in cricket
‘I remember waking up on Sunday feeling a bit groggy and putting my things back on for the bus ride.
‘It was the same Sunday night and Monday, but I had to take it off for a flight to Portugal on Tuesday.
‘I did a podcast with Jim Hamilton and Andy Goode on Monday and they couldn’t believe I was still in my kit. They said I was a mess! They said you never know how many league titles you can win so you might as well go for it. Hopefully I’ve delivered!
‘I don’t know if it has sunk in yet how big winning the Premiership was because I’m still so new to professional rugby, I haven’t really had any lows yet.
‘If you’d told me last year that I’d have had the season I had, I would have laughed at you and bitten your hand off. My aim last year was to be one of the best players at this time at Bedford, where I was on loan, but the opportunities just kept coming.’
Hendy’s next challenge is continued progression, hoping to follow in the footsteps of his club’s strong cohort who already play for Steve Borthwick’s England.
Hendy’s sustained and impressive cricketing form – the runs have kept coming since the 200 mark – will have to be put aside when Northampton begin their title defence next month.
He has been promoted to the Saints’ leadership group after performing well in pre-season.
“If your goal is not to represent your country once you get to Premier League level then you are doing it wrong,” said Hendy, who has already won the England Under-20 trophy.
‘Everyone wants that, and so do the Lions, but if I end up playing in the Premiership for a few more years, I’ll know I’ve done everything I can.
‘And if that happens, at least I can get back to Shipston on Saturday! If I come on with 20 minutes to go, I just try to bury myself.
“I’ve always played like that because I’ve always had something to prove. It’s usually worked out well for me. Before we played Leinster in the Champions Cup semi-final, I was sick twice before the warm-up! I was sick again before another Premiership game after hearing that England assistant Kevin Sinfield had been impressed with my performance.
‘That was another case of going straight to the toilet!
‘Since my first few games I haven’t had the tendency to get nervous. But when I started, especially against Leinster, it was different. I thought, “This is basically the Ireland starting XV.”
Northampton shared a photo of a young Hendy holding the Premiership trophy
Fullback Hendy pictured scoring a try for Northampton in a Challenge Cup match in April
‘Phil Dowson, our Director of Rugby, is very keen to do different things to keep us fresh. On the first day of pre-season we had a team meeting and went to St James Church, which is just over the road from Franklin’s Gardens for a change of scenery. At the altar he laid the Premiership trophy!
‘He told us it would be the last time we saw it because as far as he was concerned, last year’s group had won and this year’s group had done f*** all so far! That was it!
“He’s really good at motivating us. He wants us to make our own memories this year and that’s what we all want to do. When I joined Saints my first nickname was Dobby because initiation at the club means you have to shave your head when you start.
‘My current nickname is Horse, but Will Muir in Bath has the same nickname, so I’m looking for a new one. Maybe the boys will call me Ben Stokes… I’m a ginger after all!!’