World Rugby Hall of Fame

Towcestrians RFC link to the Rugby hall of fame.

James Garnett coach of this season’s U8 age group is proudly accepting the award on behalf of his great uncle.

James email mentions his great uncle having a self-effacing trait this has certainly been passed through the family.

James is a great all round guy who the club are proud to have as a coach and parent too.

Thanks Lee Kitching

Chairman M&J’s Towcestrians RFC
Ronnie Poulton Palmer was my Great Uncle and an outstanding Rugby player, playing for Oxford University (Scoring 5 Tries in the 1910 Varsity Match) and also played in the centre for England from 1909 – 1914.  He Captained England in 1914 and won the Grand Slam scoring 4 tries vs France, a record that still stands in International Rugby.

He was inducted to the Rugby Hall of fame on Sunday along with some 24 Rugby Legends and I was privileged to attend with my wife Sarah to accept the award on his behalf. Here is the Link to Rugby hall of fame

http://www.worldrugby.org/halloffame/news

World Rugby Hall of Fame – Induction No.101 – Ronald Poulton-Palmer (Oxford University, Harlequins, Liverpool, East Midlands, London, England) 1889-1915

One of 25 legends inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame at Wembley Stadium, London, on 20 September, 2015.

Born: 12 September, 1889 in Headington, Oxford
Died: 5 May, 1915 in Ploegsteert, Belgium

A fine all-round sportsman in his school days, Ronald Poulton-Palmer quickly developed into one of the finest – if not the finest – rugby player of his generation.

Easy on the eye both in terms of his good looks and playing style, the centre three-quarter is widely referred to as rugby’s first real superstar. Always self-effacing, Poulton-Palmer took the hype surrounding him from an early age in his long stride.

In just six seasons of senior rugby, as an international and with Oxford University, Harlequins, Liverpool and representative sides East Midlands and London, Poulton-Palmer broke countless individual records – some that survive to this day – and left a lasting impression on everyone who saw him play.

Sadly, only a year after captaining England to Four Nations glory Poulton-Palmer’s life was cut short when he was shot dead by a German sniper on the Western Front, in May 1915, aged just 25.

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Photo of L/R ARU Chairman Michael Hawker, James Garnett and World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset