From The Vaults

21 October 2015

PLAYER PROFILE - Hugo Porta (Argentina)

Hugo Porta has been described as the foundation stone of Argentinian rugby. He made his debut for the national side as a 20 year-old in 1971, at a time when Argentina were considered a developing side.

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21 October 2015

PLAYER PROFILE - Hugo Porta (Argentina)

Hugo Porta has been described as the foundation stone of Argentinian rugby. He made his debut for the national side as a 20 year-old in 1971, at a time when Argentina were considered a developing side.

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17 October 2015

Lest We Forget - Harry Alexander (England) 17/10/1915

Harry Alexander was born in Oxton, Birkenhead in Cheshire. His father William was a cotton broker in Liverpool, and his mother Edith was the daughter of the little-known artist Robert Gathoney.

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13 October 2015

Lest We Forget - Dan'l Lambert (England) 13/10/1915

Douglas Lambert was born in South Norwood, and in adult life, being a tall man, was more commonly known as 'Dan'l' or 'Danny', by allusion to the famous giant Daniel Lambert of 100 years earlier.

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06 October 2015

RUGBY DYNASTIES - The 'Bok Family Morkel

Many families have contributed outstandingly to the history and development of international rugby. If Ireland holds a record for the number of brothers who have played in the emerald green at the highest level, one family stands supreme in its overall contribution to rugby in their country. The Morkel family...

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27 September 2015

Lest We Forget - Richard Davies Garnons Williams (Wales) 27/09/1915

Over 130 rugby internationals died in the Great War. The oldest - and one of the most courageous - was fifty-nine year-old Richard Davies Garnons Williams. To put this in perspective, the Crimean War had only just ended when Richard was born on 15 June 1856.

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25 September 2015

Lest We Forget - Ernest Cotton Deane MC (Ireland) 25/09/1915

Ernest Deane was born on 4th May 1887 in Limerick, the third son of Thomas Stanley Deane and Aileen Annie (née Byrne), of Bank House, Rathkeale, co. Limerick. His father was manager of the National Bank, Rathkeale, co. Limerick.

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05 September 2015

Lest We Forget - David Revell Bedell-Sivright (Scotland) 05/09/1915

Triple-Triple Crown winner, hardest man ever to play for Scotland, horse-wrestling captain of the British Lions, heavyweight boxing champion, pioneer of the wing-forward role, jackaroo and surgeon in the Royal Navy.

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08 August 2015

Lest We Forget - Albert 'Doolan' Downing (New Zealand) 08/08/1915

Sergeant Albert Downing was born in Napier on July 12, 1886. He was educated at the Marist Brothers' School there, which he left in 1904, and was employed as a clerk successively by the Excelsior Dairy Co., Ltd., Barry Bros., Ltd., and Ellison and Duncan, Ltd., merchants...

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31 July 2015

Lest We Forget - Billy Geen (Wales) 31/07/1915

At his best, Billy Geen was a dazzlingly entertaining three-quarter, with a bewildering side-step. At times, he reminded supporters of some of the greatest exponents of Welsh back play, like Arthur Gould and Rhys Gabe.

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17 July 2015

Lest We Forget - Frank Tarr (England) 18/07/1915

Francis Nathaniel Tarr, known as Frank, was born at Ironville near Belper, Derbyshire, the only son of Frederick Tarr and his wife Emma. Francis had an older sister, Mabel.

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14 July 2015

Rugby from the front, 1914-1918

Rugby led the rush to war in 1914. As a famous recruiting poster trumpeted in December, 'Rugby Union Footballers Doing their Duty - over 90% have enlisted'.

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26 June 2015

PLAYER PROFILE - JHP Strang

The museum recently received an enquiry from a Mr Strang who had in his possession an 1888 England cap that had belonged to his Grandfather. 1888 was an interesting year for English rugby. A dispute between England and Scotland meant that England would not contest any of the fixtures that normally constituted the Home Nations Championship.

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