Category Archives: International Players

Denzil Batchelor’s All-Star XV

Posted on January 11, 2021 by worldrugbymuseum

Denzil Batchelor was a sports and war correspondent, poet and playwright. He played rugby at Oxford University in the 1920s and was a lifelong fan of cricket and rugby. This All-Star XV is an extract from his book ‘Babbled of Green Fields’ published in 1961. Continue reading →

Posted in International Players | Tagged | 1 Comment

‘L’art du drop goal’ – a French phenomenon?

Posted on November 30, 2020 by worldrugbymuseum

Kicking a drop goal has often proved a decisive factor in the winning of matches at international level since the second match between England and Scotland at The Oval in 1872 when Harold Freeman for England and Charles Cathcart for Scotland each scored a drop goal. .. Continue reading →

Posted in Countries, France, International Players | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

International Triplets

Posted on November 2, 2020 by worldrugbymuseum

There have been around 30 known cases of “triplets” appearing for their country, but only a select group of six families have produced siblings who have appeared alongside at least two other brothers in the same international team on the same day… Continue reading →

Posted in International Players | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Ernie Crawford – a legendary Irish full back

Posted on October 5, 2020 by worldrugbymuseum

The Irish selectors alighted on the Lansdowne and Leinster player William Ernest ‘Ernie’ Crawford as their full back when they chose the team for the first post-war Ireland international against England at Lansdowne Road, Dublin on February 14th 1920… Continue reading →

Posted in International Players | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Internationals at Welford Road

Posted on September 21, 2020 by worldrugbymuseum

The ground known as Welford Road, home of Leicester Tigers rugby club, hosted seven major rugby internationals in the 20th century. Physically located south of the city centre between Aylestone Road and Welford Road, the home of Leicester rugby since 1892 has played a huge part in the development and history of English rugby at club and international level… Continue reading →

Posted in Clubs, International Players | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Stellenbosch Three-quarter line

Posted on September 14, 2020 by worldrugbymuseum

If asked to name the most illustrious three-quarter line from one club or country, northern hemisphere rugby historians are most likely to name the Oxford University and Scotland three-quarter line of the 1920s… Continue reading →

Posted in International Players | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Dai Gent’s All-Star XV

Posted on June 8, 2020 by worldrugbymuseum

Swansea born Dai Gent twice trialled for Wales before being selected for England. A prototype scrum-half at a time when the English were playing half-backs, he memorably partnered Adrian Stoop in the English midfield in the first test-match to be held at Twickenham, in 1910, where England beat Wales for the first time in 12 years. He won 5 caps for England between 1905 and 1910 and in later life became a rugby correspondent with The Times newspaper.

The following extract in which he selects his ‘best ever’ side is from his 1922 book ‘Rugby Football’… Continue reading →

Posted in International Players | 3 Comments

The Incomparable Christophe

Posted on June 1, 2020 by worldrugbymuseum

Some rugby grounds inspire great performances and Twickenham is no exception.  The great deeds of English players tend to dominate in the collective memories of English fans – think Richard Sharp or Andy Hancock in the 1960s – but there have been players from other countries who have reserved some of their finest performances on the rugby field for this part of south-west London… Continue reading →

Posted in Countries, France, International Players, Rugby World Cup | 3 Comments

Remembering Graham Budge – the Evergreen International

Posted on April 13, 2020 by worldrugbymuseum

Aidan Taylor shares his research on Scotland International, Graham Budge… Continue reading →

Posted in Countries, International Players, Scotland, Services | 4 Comments

Famous English International Tries in the Amateur Era – Part 2

Posted on April 6, 2020 by worldrugbymuseum

Last week we posted Part 1 of our Famous English Tries in the Amateur Era, looking at 1910-1969. Now onto Part 2… Continue reading →

Posted in Countries, International Players | 1 Comment