Monthly Archives: June 2017

Remembering George Nepia

Posted on June 26, 2017 by

Extracted from ‘Babbled of Green Fields’ by Denzil Batchelor The New Zealand full-back was nineteen years old, and he was the only man in the side who played every match of the tour [NZ to UK, 1925].  He was only … Continue reading →

Posted in International Players, New Zealand | 1 Comment

Lest We Forget – George Eric Burroughs Dobbs (England) 17/06/1917

Posted on June 17, 2017 by

George Eric Burroughs Dobbs was born in Co Kilkenny, near Castlecomer where his father Joseph owned a coal mine.  Joseph had married Mary Augusta Harte in Dublin in 1878 and they had seven children, George being the 2nd of four … Continue reading →

Posted in England, International Players, Lest We Forget | 3 Comments

Lest We Forget – John Edward Raphael (England) 11/06/1917

Posted on June 11, 2017 by

John Edward Raphael was born in Belgium and died in Belgium, though this did not prevent him becoming one of England’s most accomplished sportsmen of his day, exemplified by the fact that at Oxford he won 14 Blues across four … Continue reading →

Posted in England, International Players, Lest We Forget | 3 Comments

All Blacks at Messines Ridge, 1917

Posted on June 7, 2017 by

In the attack leading to the capture of the Messines ridge in West Flanders, Belgium, by the Allies between June 7th and 14th 1917, the New Zealand Expeditionary Force were to the fore.  By the time the NZ troops were … Continue reading →

Posted in International Players, Lest We Forget, New Zealand | Leave a comment