Rugby union at the 1908 Summer Olympics: Difference between revisions

 

==History of 1908 match==

The visiting team competed in the London Olympics in conjunction with the inaugural [[Australia national rugby union team|Wallaby]] [[1908-09 Australia rugby union tour of the British Isles and France|tour of the United Kingdom of 1908-09]], in which they would ultimately go 25-5-1 in their 31 matches. The Australian team entered the rugby tournament and were the only other team alongside Cornwall, who were representing Great Britain.

 

Australia had already beaten Cornwall, the British county champions early in the tour - an 18-5 defeat of Cornwall in their third tour match at [[Camborne RFC]] on 3 October 1908.<ref name="ReferenceA">The First Hundred Years - The story of rugby in Cornwall by Tom Salmon 1983 (published by the Cornwall RFU)</ref> [[Scottish Rugby Union|Scotland]] and [[Irish Rugby Football Union|Ireland]] had turned down the [[Rugby Football Union]]'s invitation to participate in the Olympic bouts. [[French Rugby Federation|France]] were expected to contest the medal, but had withdrawn, leaving just the Australia and Cornwall for England team to play for gold and silver medals. The interest in the Olympic rugby final was only lukewarm with the final being held in the last week of Games that had taken place over six months.<ref>Zavos p111</ref>

 

In 1908 [[Twickenham Stadium]] was still being built. The match was played at the [[White City Stadium]], [[London]], 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.<ref>Zavos p114</ref> One day was allocated to what was called the Olympic rugby tournament. The game was rather a damp squib and took place in a thick mid week London fog at a virtually deserted White City. 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.<ref>[http://www.olympics.org.uk/contentpage.aspx?no=420 British Olympic Association - Rugby World Cup Stirs Olympic Memories]</ref>

 

Penzance RFC and England international winger Barrie Bennetts 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 5 current or future England players - captain John Jackett of Falmouth at full back, Bert Solomon at centre, England and [[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]] fly-half John "Maffer" Davey at fly half who partnered St Ives and England scrum half, Tommy Wedge. The pack which scrummaged on a first up/first down principle in those days included another England man A. J. Wilson who was a student at [[Camborne School of Mines]].

 

Australia outscored Great Britain six tries to one to win the gold medal with a 32-3 victory at the White City Stadium.<ref>[https://www.cornwallforever.co.uk/history/cornwall-v-australia-london-olympic-games-rugby-union-final

Cornwall v. Australia - 1908 London Olympic Games Rugby Union Final] on CornwallForever website</ref> 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 [[St Ives, Cornwall|St Ives]] RFC clubhouse ever since. After the match the [[Cornish people|Cornish]] players were 'entertained to dinner' by the Cornish Members of Parliament.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>