Knowledge (XXG)

Rugby union at the 1908 Summer Olympics

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creditable to the winners than the completeness of the victory itself and it is only fair to the Australians to speak of their play in terms of unqualified praise. The ground was very slippery and very heavy and as a result of several hours of continuous rain the ball was very greasy. The excellence of the play of the Australian backs therefore surprised the spectators. They gave a display of football which would have done credit to a Welsh international side, at its best. They scored eight tries and so good was the play leading up to each of them that it would be hard to say which was the best.
94: 728: 383: 282:, on an area alongside the Olympic Games swimming pool, which measured 110 yards in length with a long line of netting stretched beside to catch flying balls. Large mattresses were spread along the rim of the pool to prevent injuries to falling players. One day was allocated to the Olympic rugby tournament, with the game taking place in a thick mid-week London fog at a virtually deserted White City in wet conditions. Often, a kick for touch saw the ball end up in the pool, and it was said that the Australians were more adept at handling the slippery ball. 122: 751: 369: 789: 742: 108: 1590: 35: 1793: 719: 80: 256: 200: 309: 560: 498: 799: 539: 477: 518: 449: 546: 484: 532: 463: 338:
and although the Australians also won on that occasion, the beaten side then played on the whole, a very good game. Yesterday the champion England county was practically at full strength, but from start to finish they were outplayed. The methods by which this victory was gained were even more
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Australia outscored Great Britain six tries to one to win the gold medal by 32-3. Silver was awarded to Cornwall and no bronze was awarded. The Cornish silver olympic medal was 'drawn for' by the players and won by Thomas 'Chicky' Wedge and it has been on display at the
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had to withdraw with an injury in the morning and was replaced by Barney Solomon – the elder brother of the much more famous Bert. Cornwall had five current or future England players – captain John Jackett of Falmouth at full back, Bert Solomon at centre, England and
819: 1647: 1642: 1637: 222:, in which they would ultimately go 25-5-1 (win, draw, lose) in their 31 matches. The Australian team entered the rugby tournament and were the only other team alongside Cornwall (who were representing Great Britain). 1710: 1705: 1700: 1621: 1616: 1611: 1577: 1560: 1543: 1684: 1679: 1674: 1572: 1555: 1538: 219: 1879: 1494: 1309: 1864: 1884: 1106:
on 3 December 2008. The Barbarian players, who normally wear their club socks, all wore gold and black socks to represent Cornwall, in a game which Australia won 11-8.
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The interest in the Olympic rugby final was only lukewarm, with the final being held in the last week of the Games, that had taken place over six months.
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fly-half John "Maffer" Davey at fly half who partnered St Ives and England scrum half, Tommy Wedge. The pack which
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The First Hundred Years - The story of rugby in Cornwall by Tom Salmon 1983 (published by the Cornwall RFU)
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withdrew, leaving just the Australian and Great Britain to play for gold and silver medals.
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The visiting team competed in the London Olympics in conjunction with the inaugural
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early in the tour – an 18–5 defeat of Cornwall in their third tour match at
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players were 'entertained to dinner' by the Cornish Members of Parliament.
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in those days included another England man A J Wilson who was a student at
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British Olympic Association - Rugby World Cup Stirs Olympic Memories
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Cornwall v. Australia - 1908 London Olympic Games Rugby Union Final
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Zavos quotes a contemporary newspaper account by Major Trevor in
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International rugby union competitions hosted by England
1740: 1693: 1667: 1660: 1630: 1604: 1597: 1521: 274:was still being built: the match was played at the 225:Australia had already beaten Cornwall, the English 104: 76: 67: 59: 51: 41: 23: 191:exclusively) as the only other remaining entrant. 1865:1908 rugby union tournaments for national teams 321:RFC clubhouse ever since. After the match, the 1118:The Fourth Olympiad, Being the Official Report 1488: 1303: 299:scrummaged on a first up/first down principle 8: 1188: 1186: 1090:As part of the centenary celebrations, the 1728: 1664: 1601: 1509: 1495: 1481: 1473: 1310: 1296: 1288: 704: 424: 73: 20: 1885:Men's events at the 1908 Summer Olympics 961: 827: 312:Scene of the final at White City Stadium 1158: 263:team won the Silver Medal representing 157:Rugby union at the 1908 Summer Olympics 1120:. London: British Olympic Association. 220:tour of the United Kingdom of 1908-09 159:. The event was summarised under the 7: 517: 441: 1850:Rugby union at the Summer Olympics 14: 1278:Rugby at the 1908 Summer Olympics 288:and England international winger 1791: 1588: 749: 740: 726: 717: 558: 551: 544: 537: 530: 523: 516: 496: 489: 482: 475: 468: 461: 454: 447: 440: 381: 367: 120: 106: 92: 78: 33: 187:, (represented in rugby by the 27:at the Games of the IV Olympiad 1875:1908–09 in English rugby union 1870:1908 in Australian rugby union 1116:Cook, Theodore Andrea (1908). 179:. Defending Olympic champions 1: 1503:Rugby at the Summer Olympics 1255:. bbc.co.uk. 3 December 2008 1253:"Barbarians 11-18 Australia" 433: 1845:1908 Summer Olympics events 1233:on Cornwall Forever website 1092:British Olympic Association 1086:Centenary celebration match 63:30 from 2 nations 1901: 747: 724: 207:national team represented 1804: 1789: 1727: 1586: 1508: 1334: 1166:Australia at the Olympics 1094:arranged a match between 1030: 1013: 982: 896: 879: 848: 136: 72: 32: 1125:De Wael, Herman (2001). 958:Great Britain (Cornwall) 303:Camborne School of Mines 233:on 3 October 1908. Both 211:, winning the Gold Medal 1855:Rugby union in Cornwall 1131:Herman's Full Olympians 769:Australasia (Australia) 189:Australia national team 1180:on University of Idaho 825: 815: 805: 795: 785: 313: 267: 212: 1860:Rugby union in London 1178:Rugby in the Olympics 821: 811: 801: 791: 776: 332:on 27 October, 1908, 311: 258: 202: 16:Rugby at the Olympics 1323:1908 Summer Olympics 1144:Zavos, Spiro (2000) 884:Christopher McKivatt 243:Rugby Football Union 177:1908 county champion 165:association football 330:The Daily Telegraph 171:was represented by 163:heading along with 1102:which was held at 1054:Nicholas Tregurtha 826: 816: 806: 796: 786: 618:Nicholas Tregurtha 412:White City Stadium 314: 276:White City Stadium 272:Twickenham Stadium 268: 213: 183:withdrew, leaving 46:White City Stadium 1832: 1831: 1809:List of medalists 1800: 1799: 1723: 1722: 1719: 1718: 1656: 1655: 1470: 1469: 1452:Water motorsports 1083: 1082: 955: 954: 943:Charles McMurtrie 761: 760: 698: 697: 686:Charles McMurtrie 574: 573: 422: 421: 405: 404: 357: 356: 241:had declined the 154: 153: 132: 131: 24:Men's rugby union 1892: 1795: 1784: 1769: 1759: 1749: 1729: 1665: 1602: 1592: 1530: 1510: 1497: 1490: 1483: 1474: 1312: 1305: 1298: 1289: 1265: 1264: 1262: 1260: 1249: 1243: 1240: 1234: 1228: 1222: 1217: 1211: 1208: 1202: 1199: 1193: 1190: 1181: 1175: 1169: 1168:on Topend Sports 1163: 1146:Golden Wallabies 1141: 1139: 1137: 1121: 1066:Charlie Marshall 962: 936:Malcolm McArthur 922:Sydney Middleton 828: 754: 753: 745: 744: 743: 731: 730: 722: 721: 720: 705: 682:Malcolm McArthur 674:Sydney Middleton 622:Charlie Marshall 562: 561: 555: 554: 548: 547: 541: 540: 534: 533: 527: 526: 520: 519: 500: 499: 493: 492: 486: 485: 479: 478: 472: 471: 465: 464: 458: 457: 451: 450: 444: 443: 434: 425: 418: 407: 406: 390: 386: 385: 373: 372: 371: 359: 358: 350: 349: 227:county champions 124: 123: 111: 110: 109: 96: 95: 83: 82: 81: 74: 37: 21: 1900: 1899: 1895: 1894: 1893: 1891: 1890: 1889: 1835: 1834: 1833: 1828: 1813:List of Venues 1796: 1787: 1782: 1767: 1757: 1747: 1736: 1715: 1689: 1652: 1626: 1593: 1584: 1528: 1517: 1504: 1501: 1471: 1466: 1330: 1316: 1274: 1269: 1268: 1258: 1256: 1251: 1250: 1246: 1241: 1237: 1229: 1225: 1218: 1214: 1209: 1205: 1200: 1196: 1191: 1184: 1176: 1172: 1164: 1160: 1155: 1135: 1133: 1124: 1115: 1112: 1104:Wembley Stadium 1088: 1035:Richard Jackett 960: 853:Charles Russell 843:Phil Carmichael 771: 766: 748: 741: 739: 725: 718: 716: 703: 694: 660: 638:Charles Russell 634:Phil Carmichael 624:, A. Wilcocks, 612:, E. J. Jones, 610:Richard Jackett 570: 569: 564: 563: 559: 556: 552: 549: 545: 542: 538: 535: 531: 528: 524: 521: 508: 507: 502: 501: 497: 494: 490: 487: 483: 480: 476: 473: 469: 466: 462: 459: 455: 452: 448: 445: 423: 410: 380: 379: 366: 362: 353:26 October 1908 347: 290:Barrie Bennetts 197: 150: 149: 143: 121: 119: 107: 105: 93: 91: 79: 77: 28: 25: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1898: 1896: 1888: 1887: 1882: 1877: 1872: 1867: 1862: 1857: 1852: 1847: 1837: 1836: 1830: 1829: 1827: 1826: 1825: 1824: 1819: 1811: 1805: 1802: 1801: 1798: 1797: 1790: 1788: 1786: 1785: 1780: 1775: 1770: 1765: 1760: 1755: 1750: 1744: 1742: 1738: 1737: 1732: 1725: 1724: 1721: 1720: 1717: 1716: 1714: 1713: 1708: 1703: 1697: 1695: 1691: 1690: 1688: 1687: 1682: 1677: 1671: 1669: 1662: 1658: 1657: 1654: 1653: 1651: 1650: 1645: 1640: 1634: 1632: 1628: 1627: 1625: 1624: 1619: 1614: 1608: 1606: 1599: 1598:Qualifications 1595: 1594: 1587: 1585: 1583: 1582: 1581: 1580: 1575: 1565: 1564: 1563: 1558: 1548: 1547: 1546: 1541: 1531: 1525: 1523: 1519: 1518: 1513: 1506: 1505: 1502: 1500: 1499: 1492: 1485: 1477: 1468: 1467: 1465: 1464: 1459: 1454: 1449: 1444: 1439: 1434: 1429: 1424: 1419: 1414: 1409: 1404: 1399: 1394: 1389: 1384: 1379: 1377:Figure skating 1374: 1369: 1364: 1359: 1351: 1346: 1341: 1335: 1332: 1331: 1317: 1315: 1314: 1307: 1300: 1292: 1286: 1285: 1273: 1272:External links 1270: 1267: 1266: 1244: 1235: 1223: 1212: 1203: 1194: 1182: 1170: 1157: 1156: 1154: 1151: 1150: 1149: 1148:Penguin Sydney 1142: 1122: 1111: 1108: 1087: 1084: 1081: 1080: 1078:John Trevaskis 1074: 1073: 1069: 1068: 1062: 1061: 1057: 1056: 1050: 1049: 1043: 1042: 1038: 1037: 1032: 1028: 1027: 1021: 1020: 1015: 1011: 1010: 1004: 1003: 1001:Frederick Dean 997: 996: 990: 989: 987:Barney Solomon 984: 980: 979: 974: 970: 969: 966: 959: 956: 953: 952: 946: 945: 939: 938: 932: 931: 925: 924: 918: 917: 911: 910: 904: 903: 901:Thomas Griffin 898: 894: 893: 887: 886: 881: 877: 876: 870: 869: 863: 862: 860:Daniel Carroll 856: 855: 850: 846: 845: 840: 836: 835: 832: 777:Syd Middleton 770: 767: 765: 762: 759: 758: 746: 736: 735: 723: 713: 712: 709: 702: 699: 696: 695: 693: 692: 662:Thomas Griffin 642:Daniel Carroll 628: 626:John Trevaskis 594:Frederick Dean 586:Barney Solomon 582:Edward Jackett 579:Great Britain: 575: 572: 571: 565: 557: 550: 543: 536: 529: 522: 515: 514: 513: 511: 509: 503: 495: 488: 481: 474: 467: 460: 453: 446: 439: 438: 437: 430: 429: 420: 419: 403: 402: 400: 395: 392: 391: 377: 374: 355: 354: 346: 343: 196: 193: 152: 151: 144: 138: 137: 134: 133: 130: 129: 114: 112: 102: 101: 86: 84: 70: 69: 65: 64: 61: 57: 56: 53: 49: 48: 43: 39: 38: 30: 29: 26: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1897: 1886: 1883: 1881: 1878: 1876: 1873: 1871: 1868: 1866: 1863: 1861: 1858: 1856: 1853: 1851: 1848: 1846: 1843: 1842: 1840: 1823: 1820: 1818: 1815: 1814: 1812: 1810: 1807: 1806: 1803: 1794: 1781: 1779: 1776: 1774: 1771: 1766: 1764: 1761: 1756: 1754: 1751: 1746: 1745: 1743: 1739: 1735: 1730: 1726: 1712: 1709: 1707: 1704: 1702: 1699: 1698: 1696: 1692: 1686: 1683: 1681: 1678: 1676: 1673: 1672: 1670: 1666: 1663: 1659: 1649: 1646: 1644: 1641: 1639: 1636: 1635: 1633: 1629: 1623: 1620: 1618: 1615: 1613: 1610: 1609: 1607: 1603: 1600: 1596: 1591: 1579: 1576: 1574: 1571: 1570: 1569: 1566: 1562: 1559: 1557: 1554: 1553: 1552: 1549: 1545: 1542: 1540: 1537: 1536: 1535: 1532: 1527: 1526: 1524: 1520: 1516: 1511: 1507: 1498: 1493: 1491: 1486: 1484: 1479: 1478: 1475: 1463: 1460: 1458: 1455: 1453: 1450: 1448: 1445: 1443: 1440: 1438: 1435: 1433: 1430: 1428: 1425: 1423: 1420: 1418: 1415: 1413: 1410: 1408: 1405: 1403: 1400: 1398: 1395: 1393: 1390: 1388: 1385: 1383: 1380: 1378: 1375: 1373: 1370: 1368: 1365: 1363: 1360: 1358: 1356: 1352: 1350: 1347: 1345: 1342: 1340: 1337: 1336: 1333: 1328: 1324: 1320: 1313: 1308: 1306: 1301: 1299: 1294: 1293: 1290: 1283: 1279: 1276: 1275: 1271: 1254: 1248: 1245: 1239: 1236: 1232: 1227: 1224: 1221: 1216: 1213: 1207: 1204: 1198: 1195: 1189: 1187: 1183: 1179: 1174: 1171: 1167: 1162: 1159: 1152: 1147: 1143: 1132: 1128: 1123: 1119: 1114: 1113: 1109: 1107: 1105: 1101: 1097: 1093: 1085: 1079: 1076: 1075: 1071: 1070: 1067: 1064: 1063: 1059: 1058: 1055: 1052: 1051: 1048: 1047:Arthur Wilson 1045: 1044: 1040: 1039: 1036: 1033: 1029: 1026: 1023: 1022: 1019: 1016: 1012: 1009: 1006: 1005: 1002: 999: 998: 995: 992: 991: 988: 985: 981: 978: 975: 972: 971: 967: 964: 963: 957: 951: 948: 947: 944: 941: 940: 937: 934: 933: 930: 927: 926: 923: 920: 919: 916: 915:Patrick McCue 913: 912: 909: 908:Jumbo Barnett 906: 905: 902: 899: 895: 892: 891:Arthur McCabe 889: 888: 885: 882: 878: 875: 872: 871: 868: 865: 864: 861: 858: 857: 854: 851: 847: 844: 841: 838: 837: 833: 830: 829: 824: 820: 814: 813:Chris McKivat 810: 804: 800: 794: 793:Boxer Russell 790: 784: 780: 775: 768: 763: 757: 756:Great Britain 752: 738: 737: 734: 729: 715: 714: 710: 707: 706: 700: 691: 687: 683: 679: 675: 671: 670:Patrick McCue 667: 663: 659: 658:Arthur McCabe 655: 654:Chris McKivat 651: 647: 643: 639: 635: 632: 629: 627: 623: 620:, A. Lawrey, 619: 615: 614:Arthur Wilson 611: 607: 603: 599: 595: 591: 587: 583: 580: 577: 576: 568: 512: 510: 506: 436: 435: 432: 431: 428:Team details 427: 426: 417: 413: 409: 408: 401: 399: 396: 394: 393: 389: 384: 378: 375: 370: 365: 364:Great Britain 361: 360: 352: 351: 344: 342: 340: 337: 331: 326: 324: 320: 310: 306: 304: 300: 296: 295:British Lions 291: 287: 283: 281: 277: 273: 266: 265:Great Britain 262: 257: 253: 250: 248: 244: 240: 236: 232: 228: 223: 221: 218: 210: 206: 201: 194: 192: 190: 186: 182: 178: 174: 170: 169:Great Britain 166: 162: 158: 148: → 147: 142: 139:←  135: 128: 127:Great Britain 118: 115: 113: 103: 100: 90: 87: 85: 75: 71: 66: 62: 58: 54: 50: 47: 44: 40: 36: 31: 22: 19: 1817:Rugby sevens 1762: 1515:Rugby sevens 1421: 1397:Jeu de paume 1392:Field hockey 1357:(unofficial) 1353: 1257:. Retrieved 1247: 1238: 1226: 1215: 1206: 1197: 1173: 1161: 1145: 1134:. Retrieved 1130: 1127:"Rugby 1908" 1117: 1110:Bibliography 1089: 1072:A. Wilcocks 1041:E. J. Jones 1025:Maffer Davey 1018:Thomas Wedge 994:Bert Solomon 977:John Jackett 950:Robert Craig 929:Tom Richards 803:Tom Richards 764:Team rosters 690:Robert Craig 678:Tom Richards 666:John Barnett 631:Australasia: 630: 602:Thomas Wedge 590:Bert Solomon 578: 566: 504: 333: 327: 315: 286:Penzance RFC 284: 269: 261:Cornwall RFU 251: 231:Camborne RFC 224: 214: 156: 155: 18: 1822:Rugby union 1741:Tournaments 1734:Rugby union 1522:Tournaments 1282:SR/Olympics 874:Frank Smith 867:John Hickey 823:Dan Carroll 733:Australasia 701:Medal table 650:Frank Smith 646:Jack Hickey 606:James Davey 567:Australasia 388:Australasia 209:Australasia 185:Australasia 167:. The host 99:Australasia 60:Competitors 1839:Categories 1457:Water polo 1447:Tug of war 1387:Gymnastics 1355:Cycle polo 1284:(archived) 1259:26 January 1242:Zavos p113 1210:Zavos p114 1201:Zavos p111 1153:References 1100:Barbarians 1060:A. Lawrey 1008:Jimmy Jose 598:Jimmy Jose 505:G. Britain 161:"Football" 55:26 October 1783:1928–2024 1529:1896–2012 1462:Wrestling 1344:Athletics 1096:Australia 1014:Halfbacks 880:Halfbacks 217:Australia 205:Australia 89:Australia 68:Medalists 1437:Swimming 1432:Shooting 1402:Lacrosse 1382:Football 1098:and the 1031:Forwards 965:Position 897:Forwards 831:Position 336:Camborne 270:In 1908 235:Scotland 173:Cornwall 117:Cornwall 1427:Sailing 1412:Rackets 1372:Fencing 1362:Cycling 1339:Archery 1321:at the 983:¾-backs 849:¾-backs 323:Cornish 319:St Ives 239:Ireland 195:History 1661:Squads 1442:Tennis 1417:Rowing 1367:Diving 1349:Boxing 1327:London 1319:Events 416:London 398:Report 345:Result 280:London 247:France 181:France 175:, the 125:  97:  1694:Women 1631:Women 1578:women 1561:women 1544:women 1422:Rugby 1136:7 May 968:Name 834:Name 711:Team 42:Venue 1778:1924 1773:1920 1768:1912 1763:1908 1758:1904 1753:1900 1748:1896 1711:2024 1706:2020 1701:2016 1685:2024 1680:2020 1675:2016 1648:2024 1643:2020 1638:2016 1622:2024 1617:2020 1612:2016 1568:2024 1551:2020 1534:2016 1407:Polo 1261:2013 1138:2006 973:Back 839:Back 708:Rank 376:3–32 259:The 237:and 203:The 146:1920 141:1900 52:Date 1668:Men 1605:Men 1573:men 1556:men 1539:men 1280:at 783:OBE 779:DSO 341:" 1841:: 1185:^ 1129:. 781:, 688:, 684:, 680:, 676:, 672:, 668:, 664:, 656:, 652:, 648:, 644:, 640:, 636:, 616:, 608:, 604:, 600:, 596:, 592:, 588:, 584:, 414:, 305:. 278:, 1496:e 1489:t 1482:v 1329:) 1325:( 1311:e 1304:t 1297:v 1263:. 1140:.

Index


White City Stadium
Australia
Australasia
Cornwall
Great Britain
1900
1920
"Football"
association football
Great Britain
Cornwall
1908 county champion
France
Australasia
Australia national team

Australia
Australasia
Australia
tour of the United Kingdom of 1908-09
county champions
Camborne RFC
Scotland
Ireland
Rugby Football Union
France

Cornwall RFU
Great Britain

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