Horace Lyne
Encyclopedia
Horace Sampson Lyne MBE
(31 December 1860 - 1 May 1949) was a Welsh
international rugby union
forward who played club rugby for Newport Rugby Football Club. He won five caps for Wales
and after retiring from playing rugby became the longest serving president of the Welsh Rugby Union
. Lyne is also notable as one of the six representatives that set up the International Rugby Board
.
in an away match at Raeburn Park to Scotland. This was the first time that the two teams had played each other, and Wales, under the captaincy of Charles Lewis
, lost by three goals to one. Lyne played in the next four Welsh games, including all three games of the 1884 Championship
and the opening game of the 1885 Championship
, which was against England at St Helens
in Swansea
. He retired from playing rugby in 1885 but continued his association with the game when in 1885 he refereed the match between England and Ireland.
, became one of the Welsh representatives of the International Board
, the body set up to regulate the sport in Britain. Lyne would serve on the board of the IB, later becoming the International Rugby Board, from 1887 to 1938. Lyne was in demand as an administrator and was seen as very fairminded. He was also a forward thinker, and voiced concerns regarding the North of England breaking away from the IRB, years before the formation of rugby league
. As the chair of the Welsh Football Union, he met up with Neath
secretary, Walter E. Rees
, the man with whom he would run the WRU for near four decades. In 1892 Lyne was voted in as one of four vice-presidents of the WRU, with joint responsibilities for Cardiff and the East area. During the same meeting, Mullock, who was extremely unpopular with the Welsh rugby clubs, was replaced as secretary by William Gwynn
.
In 1906, Lyne replaced Sir John T. Llewellyn
as the President of the Welsh Rugby Union, a role he would hold until 1947 making him the longest serving president. He was proceeded by Sir David Rocyn-Jones
.
Lyne was also the Chairman of Newport Athletic Club from 1894 to 1949.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(31 December 1860 - 1 May 1949) was a Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
international rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
forward who played club rugby for Newport Rugby Football Club. He won five caps for Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
and after retiring from playing rugby became the longest serving president of the Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
. Lyne is also notable as one of the six representatives that set up the International Rugby Board
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
.
Playing career
Lyne played most of his club rugby with Newport, spending 8 seasons with the club between 1878 and 1885. He captained Newport in his final full season in 1883/1884. Lyne was first selected for Wales during the 1883 Home Nations Championship1883 Home Nations Championship
The 1883 Home Nations Championship was the inaugural series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Five matches were played between 16 December 1882 and 3 March 1883...
in an away match at Raeburn Park to Scotland. This was the first time that the two teams had played each other, and Wales, under the captaincy of Charles Lewis
Charles Lewis (rugby player)
Charles Prytherch Lewis was a Welsh international rugby union player, who won five caps between 1882 and 1884.-Life:...
, lost by three goals to one. Lyne played in the next four Welsh games, including all three games of the 1884 Championship
1884 Home Nations Championship
The 1884 Home Nations Championship was the second series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 5 January and 12 April 1884...
and the opening game of the 1885 Championship
1885 Home Nations Championship
The 1885 Home Nations Championship was the third series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Four matches were played between 3 January and 21 February 1885. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales...
, which was against England at St Helens
St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground
St. Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground is a spectator venue in Swansea, Wales. It is used for both rugby and cricket.It is owned and operated by the City and County of Swansea council and is also used to host the local annual Guy Fawkes night fireworks display.-History:Since the ground opened in...
in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
. He retired from playing rugby in 1885 but continued his association with the game when in 1885 he refereed the match between England and Ireland.
Administrative career
Lyne had taken a clear interest in the affairs of Welsh rugby while still a player, but on his retirement from playing he began applying for administritive posts within the sport. In 1887 Lyne, along with WRU secretary Richard MullockRichard Mullock
Richard Mullock was a Welsh sporting administrator and official, who is most notable for organising the first Welsh rugby union international game and was instrumental in the creation of the Welsh Football Union, which became the Welsh Rugby Union in 1934...
, became one of the Welsh representatives of the International Board
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
, the body set up to regulate the sport in Britain. Lyne would serve on the board of the IB, later becoming the International Rugby Board, from 1887 to 1938. Lyne was in demand as an administrator and was seen as very fairminded. He was also a forward thinker, and voiced concerns regarding the North of England breaking away from the IRB, years before the formation of rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
. As the chair of the Welsh Football Union, he met up with Neath
Neath RFC
Neath Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. The club's home ground is The Gnoll, Neath. The first team is known as the Welsh All Blacks because of the team colours: black with only a white cross pattée as an emblem...
secretary, Walter E. Rees
Walter E. Rees
Captain Walter Enoch Rees was a Welsh rugby union administrator who was the longest serving secretary of the Welsh Rugby Union and joint manager of the 1910 British Lions tour of South Africa.-Career as rugby administrator:...
, the man with whom he would run the WRU for near four decades. In 1892 Lyne was voted in as one of four vice-presidents of the WRU, with joint responsibilities for Cardiff and the East area. During the same meeting, Mullock, who was extremely unpopular with the Welsh rugby clubs, was replaced as secretary by William Gwynn
William Gwynn
William Gwynn was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Swansea and would later become secretary of the Welsh Rugby Union. Gwynn was an all-round sportsman and as well as his success on the rugby pitch he also player cricket for Swansea, of which he became...
.
In 1906, Lyne replaced Sir John T. Llewellyn
John Talbot Dillwyn Llewellyn
Sir John Talbot Dillwyn-Llewellyn, 1st Baronet was a Welsh Conservative Member of Parliament who was notable for his links to Welsh sports.-Background and education:...
as the President of the Welsh Rugby Union, a role he would hold until 1947 making him the longest serving president. He was proceeded by Sir David Rocyn-Jones
David Rocyn-Jones
Sir David Thomas Rocyn-Jones CBE, K St J, DL, JP was a Welsh medical officer of health and servant of multiple professional bodies within Wales.-Professional career:...
.
Lyne was also the Chairman of Newport Athletic Club from 1894 to 1949.