Committee members at Letchworth Rugby Club received a pleasant surprise when a package accompanied by an anonymous note turned up on their doorstep.

Pre-season at Legends Lane had a touch of the surreal when the package was opened to discover a scrum-half shirt which had been missing from the club for a quarter of a century.

On top of the number nine shirt was a note which read: “This shirt was swiped from your first team as a trophy in circa 1987.

“It has languished in a drawer for the last 25 years.

“It is time it was returned home. It is sent with apologies and best wishes to your club!”

Club president Brian Burke said: “At the time the number nine shirt was shared between two club legends – the late David ‘Copper’ Brown and Adrian Thomas – so it will be treasured.

“If the anonymous donor reads this he is welcome for a free pint any time this season.

“Ironically former scrum-half and club secretary John Donegan arrived from Ireland in that year and is now saying farewell to the club and the area as he returns home after nearly 30 years’ hard service to Legends Lane.

“We wish him and his wife Chris happy travels and many returns to this area.

“Let’s hope that this year’s crop of players will wear the shirt with the same pride that Brown and Thomas did all those years ago and carry on the proud tradition of North Hertfordshire’s oldest and most senior club.

“We are pleased the shirt came home and who says rugby players are not honest?”

The Legends kick off their London League One campaign away at Ruislip at 3pm on Saturday afternoon.