News | Max Redding

Written : Thursday 27th Aug 26

It is with great sadness that we have to tell that Max Redding former youth and senior player died on Friday evening in the car crash on the Epsom Road in Guildford.

Some thoughts remembering Max Redding

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It is difficult to find the right words to remember Max, because he was never someone who could be summed up simply. He was a complex character, full of energy, determination, strength and spirit. Someone whose presence made an impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him.

Max first came along to rugby at Stoke Park as a 12-year-old and it was immediately clear he was already an exceptional athlete; we only found out sometime later that he competed as a national-level trampolinist. Clearly, he possessed a remarkable combination of athletic ability, physical strength and determination.

But what stood out most was not simply what Max could do physically. Despite his size and ability, he was never defined by arrogance. He was humble, respectful and deeply committed to his teammates. He led far more through his actions than his words.

His commitment to rugby was extraordinary. Max was a near-constant presence at matches, weekend training and midweek sessions. He turned up, worked hard and gave everything he had. Whether charging uphill on Stoke Park (usually with opposition players hanging from him), standing firm under relentless pressure on his own tryline, or taking on a challenge that others might have avoided, Max never seemed to know when to stop.

He had a swagger about him as he grew older — a confidence that was unmistakably Max. Yet that confidence disappeared when he was pushed to his absolute physical limit on the rugby pitch. In those moments, you saw just how much it really mattered to him.

Max cared deeply about his team and about what he believed was right. That passion could sometimes get him into trouble. He had his share of run-ins with referees on the pitch, but even those moments came from the same place: he put everything, and sometimes more than everything, into representing his team

One story captures Max perfectly.

It was during the famous cup match against Richmond, at that godforsaken corner of Guildford that is Urnfield. After what seemed like an eternity of pressure on our try line, Max received a yellow card for a less than punctual challenge on the Richmond No. 10. At half-time, with some of his ‘time in the bin’ still to serve, his coach checked that he was alright. Max with his usual honesty acknowledged that the decision had been risky, that it had put the team under pressure and could ultimately cost them the match. Then he looked his coach in the eye and simply said, ‘Worth it though!’ before trotting off to join his teammates. That was Max.

Fearless, committed, occasionally infuriating, sometimes utterly unpredictable — but always prepared to put himself on the line for those around him.
And beneath all of that was a young man who understood the importance of those who supported him. One of the things his coaches remember most vividly is that, without exception, even after tense final minutes of a match with his emotions still running high, Max would always come over afterwards, shake their hand and thank them for being there to coach him.

Even after the toughest of matches, even after difficult moments on the pitch, Max could compose himself and remember the people who had given their time so that he could play the game he loved. That tells us a great deal about him.

As well as Guildfordians Juniors, George Abbot School, Vandals-Guildfordians Cluster, Max also played for Surrey Rugby and, having aged out of the colt’s sections, took to the fields at Stoke Park and beyond for the Bisons senior side. But he never forgot the teammates, coaches and friends who had been part of his journey. Wherever he played, he remained a fierce competitor, a loyal teammate and someone who could always be relied upon to give everything from the first whistle to the last.

To his teammates, he was someone to look up to. To his coaches, he was challenging, rewarding and unforgettable. To those who played alongside him, he was the sort of character who could make a match, a tour or a training session memorable simply by being there.

Max embodied so much of what rugby can give young people: commitment, resilience, courage, loyalty, friendship and the determination to stand up for those around you.

But beyond rugby, he was Max — individual, complicated, funny, strong-willed and impossible to forget.

The sadness of losing someone so young is impossible to put into words. There will be countless memories: the tackles, the battles, the laughter, the arguments, the tours, the training sessions, the moments of brilliance and the moments that left coaches shaking their heads. Those memories will become part of his legacy.

Max will be deeply missed by his loving family who were a consistent and supportive presence on the touchline, by his friends, teammates, coaches and everyone who had the privilege of sharing part of his journey, one that was far too short.

Guildfordians Rugby Club will remember him not simply for the player he was, but for the person he was — a young man who gave everything, challenged everyone around him, and left an indelible mark on those who knew him.

Max will be greatly missed. He will never be forgotten.

Peter O'Loughlin
Colts Coach 2024-25