Anti-Assassins
Encyclopedia
The Anti-Assassins Rugby Union Football team (A-As) was an invitation team that selected players from the northern counties of England to play friendly charitable matches locally and to go on tour. The team was remodelled in 2004, teaming up with the Wooden Spoon Society
(another charitable rugby organisation) to become the Spoon AAs.
The Spoon AAs rugby team continues to play a mixture of traditional fixtures with matches against the Old Boys teams from Sedbergh, Kirkham, Giggleswick and Stonyhurst. Special matches against clubs in the North and other parts of the country are arranged to celebrate Anniversaries and openings etc. The team has recently travelled to Cambridge University, Richmond and Taunton, they have played against the Royal Navy and a British Army team based in Germany, as well as a variety of Sevens tournaments.
Semper Mores Boni, Latin for "good behaviour always", is the motto of the club.
, Cumbria
. This invitation team carried on playing a variety of fixtures, mainly in the North, raising money for established charities, celebrating special club occasions and helping to develop rugby football at leading schools.
at Davenport Rugby Club (now Stockport R.U.F.C
) and won the Davenport plate in 1978.
, Blackheath F.C., Wilmslow RFC, Vale of Lune RUFC
, Harlequin F.C.
and Fylde RFC, losing all their matches).
Stewart Faulds, the founder of the Anti-Assassins, was the 1969 tour manager and in an interview for Rugby World magazine he stated that despite the scorelines, the matches were not as one sided as they may appear on paper; it was not until the end of the second half in many of the matches that the visitors took control. He also stated that the RFUEA's
administration and organisation could not be bettered anywhere and suggested that any club that could undertake a similar tour would be ensured a trip of a lifetime.
The matches were very popular attracting crowds never fewer than 1,500 spectators and the last match of the tour against East Africa was watched by nearly 4,000 people.
The player of the tour was the Rugby School
former pupil Bill Hartley (Headingley and Yorkshire) who scored 22 tries in seven matches playing on the wing. Another standout player was the flanker Stan Purdy (Warwickshire and England
). The team was captained by WM (Bill) Patterson (Sale FC
, Cheshire, England
and Lions
) who suffered a concussion in the last game and was replaced by Malcolm Philips (Oxford University and England
).
, Tanzania
and Uganda
) and the East African
multinational side.
1982 Tour party
, the Lions Manager in New Zealand in 2005 and recently appointed Vice Chairman of the iRB
is one of our members. Malcolm Phillips
, President of the RFU in 2005-2006 is the new Wooden Spoon A-As’ President.
Wooden Spoon Society
Wooden Spoon is a children's charity founded in 1983, when the England rugby team received the Wooden Spoon in the 5 Nations. Spoon is dedicated to helping children and young people who are disadvantaged physically, mentally or socially by using sport as a method of improving lives while...
(another charitable rugby organisation) to become the Spoon AAs.
The Spoon AAs rugby team continues to play a mixture of traditional fixtures with matches against the Old Boys teams from Sedbergh, Kirkham, Giggleswick and Stonyhurst. Special matches against clubs in the North and other parts of the country are arranged to celebrate Anniversaries and openings etc. The team has recently travelled to Cambridge University, Richmond and Taunton, they have played against the Royal Navy and a British Army team based in Germany, as well as a variety of Sevens tournaments.
Semper Mores Boni, Latin for "good behaviour always", is the motto of the club.
History
The Anti-Assassins was founded in 1950 when three Old Sedberghians, Stewart Faulds, Geoff and Arthur Kenyon, were invited to pick a Northern team to play against the masters and Old Boys (The Assassins) of Sedbergh SchoolSedbergh School
Sedbergh School is a boarding school in Sedbergh, Cumbria, for boys and girls aged 13 to 18. Nestled in the Howgill Fells, it is known for sporting sides, such as its Rugby Union 1st XV.-Background:...
, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
. This invitation team carried on playing a variety of fixtures, mainly in the North, raising money for established charities, celebrating special club occasions and helping to develop rugby football at leading schools.
Opponents
The A-As have played many clubs locally in the north of England, they have conducted tours within Europe (to Galway, Isle of Man, Jersey, Ulster, France, Holland, Italy and Spain) and have been further afield to play matches and 7's tournaments in Australia, Canada, Dubai, East Africa, South Africa, USA and the Caribbean. The A-As were a regular fixture at the Glengarth SevensGlengarth Sevens
The Glengarth Sevens was an annual 7 a-side rugby union tournament held at Davenport Rugby Club The first Glengarth Sevens was held in 1967 at Headlands Road, home of Davenport Rugby Club...
at Davenport Rugby Club (now Stockport R.U.F.C
Stockport R.U.F.C
Stockport Rugby Union Football Club was founded in 1923 as Davenport R.U.F.C, the name changing in 1992. The club play home matches at the Memorial Ground, Headlands Road in Bramhall, Stockport...
) and won the Davenport plate in 1978.
1964
The first tour to East Africa by the Anti-Assassins took place in 1964 (one source states 1965).| Date | Opposition | Location | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964- - | Scorpions RFC Scorpions RFC The Scorpions RFC is an invitation rugby team in East Africa that was established upon principles that have many parallels with the Barbarian F.C. in terms of values, playing style, selection policy and the lack of a home ground... |
RFUEA ground RFUEA Ground The RFUEA Ground is a rugby union stadium located on the Ngong Road in Nairobi, Kenya. It was purpose built to be the home of the national team and to serve as the headquarters of the Rugby Football Union of Kenya... , Nairobi Nairobi Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is... |
lost | - |
| 1964- - | East Africa East Africa rugby union team Established in 1950, The East Africa rugby union team is a multi-national rugby union team drawing players from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, though the vast majority of these came from Kenya which has traditionally been the strongest rugby playing nation in this part of the world... |
RFUEA ground RFUEA Ground The RFUEA Ground is a rugby union stadium located on the Ngong Road in Nairobi, Kenya. It was purpose built to be the home of the national team and to serve as the headquarters of the Rugby Football Union of Kenya... , Nairobi Nairobi Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is... |
won | 0 - 13 |
1969
The second Anti-Assassins tour to East Africa occurred five years later. (In the intervening years East Africa had played against the Anti-Assassins on their "Third Tuskers Tour" to England in 1966; on this tour East Africa had also played against Richmond F.C.Richmond F.C.
Richmond Football Club is a rugby union club from Richmond, London. It is a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, and is one of the oldest football clubs...
, Blackheath F.C., Wilmslow RFC, Vale of Lune RUFC
Vale of Lune RUFC
Vale Of Lune Rugby Union Football Club is an English rugby union club based in Lancaster that plays in the Northern Division....
, Harlequin F.C.
Harlequin F.C.
The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
and Fylde RFC, losing all their matches).
Stewart Faulds, the founder of the Anti-Assassins, was the 1969 tour manager and in an interview for Rugby World magazine he stated that despite the scorelines, the matches were not as one sided as they may appear on paper; it was not until the end of the second half in many of the matches that the visitors took control. He also stated that the RFUEA's
Rugby Football Union of East Africa
The Rugby Football Union of East Africa is an umbrella union for the Kenya Rugby Football Union, Tanzania Rugby Football Union and Uganda Rugby Football Union. It owes its existence to the fact that, prior to independence, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda were either a protectorate or mandate of the...
administration and organisation could not be bettered anywhere and suggested that any club that could undertake a similar tour would be ensured a trip of a lifetime.
The matches were very popular attracting crowds never fewer than 1,500 spectators and the last match of the tour against East Africa was watched by nearly 4,000 people.
The player of the tour was the Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
former pupil Bill Hartley (Headingley and Yorkshire) who scored 22 tries in seven matches playing on the wing. Another standout player was the flanker Stan Purdy (Warwickshire and England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
). The team was captained by WM (Bill) Patterson (Sale FC
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
, Cheshire, England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
and Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
) who suffered a concussion in the last game and was replaced by Malcolm Philips (Oxford University and England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
).
| Date | Opposition | Location | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969- - | Kampala Kampala Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen... |
won | 14 - 37 | |
| 1969- - | West Kenya Province | Kitale Kitale Kitale is an agricultural town in western Kenya situated between Mount Elgon and the Cherengani Hills at an elevation of around . Its urban population was estimated at 220,000 in 2007.... |
won | 18 - 60 |
| 1969- - | Kenya Clubs | Nakuru Nakuru Nakuru, the provincial capital of Kenya's Rift Valley province, with roughly 300,000 inhabitants, and currently the fourth largest urban centre in the country, lies about 1850 m above sea level... |
won | 3 - 28 |
| 1969- - | Central Province (Kenya) | Nairobi Nairobi Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is... |
won | 15 - 25 |
| 1969- - | Scorpions RFC Scorpions RFC The Scorpions RFC is an invitation rugby team in East Africa that was established upon principles that have many parallels with the Barbarian F.C. in terms of values, playing style, selection policy and the lack of a home ground... |
RFUEA ground RFUEA Ground The RFUEA Ground is a rugby union stadium located on the Ngong Road in Nairobi, Kenya. It was purpose built to be the home of the national team and to serve as the headquarters of the Rugby Football Union of Kenya... , Nairobi Nairobi Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is... |
won | 14 - 48 |
| 1969- - | Dar es Salaam Dar es Salaam Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ... |
won | 8 - 30 | |
| 1969- - | Coast Province | Mombasa Mombasa Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry.... |
won | 6 - 50 |
| 1969- - | East Africa East Africa rugby union team Established in 1950, The East Africa rugby union team is a multi-national rugby union team drawing players from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, though the vast majority of these came from Kenya which has traditionally been the strongest rugby playing nation in this part of the world... |
RFUEA ground RFUEA Ground The RFUEA Ground is a rugby union stadium located on the Ngong Road in Nairobi, Kenya. It was purpose built to be the home of the national team and to serve as the headquarters of the Rugby Football Union of Kenya... , Nairobi Nairobi Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is... |
won | 8 - 40 |
1982
The third East Africa tour was conducted in 1982, though strictly it was a tour of Kenya rather than the whole of East Africa. By playing Kenya on this tour they achieved feat perhaps unrivalled by any club, that of having played all three East African nations (KenyaKenya national rugby union team
The Kenya national rugby union team is the Kenyan national team in Rugby. it is controlled by the Kenya Rugby Football Union.The team participates Confederation of African Rugby tournaments, but has never qualified for the Rugby World Cup....
, Tanzania
Tanzania national rugby union team
The Tanzania national rugby union team represents Tanzania in international rugby union. They are known as the Twigas . Tanzania are a member of the International Rugby Board , and have yet to play in a Rugby World Cup tournament. In the 1970s expatriates and Tanzanians regularly played in the...
and Uganda
Uganda national rugby union team
The Uganda national rugby union team are a national sporting side of Uganda, representing them at rugby union. Rugby union was introduced by the British during colonial rule and Uganda played their first international game against Kenya in 1958...
) and the East African
East Africa rugby union team
Established in 1950, The East Africa rugby union team is a multi-national rugby union team drawing players from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, though the vast majority of these came from Kenya which has traditionally been the strongest rugby playing nation in this part of the world...
multinational side.
| Date | Opposition | Location | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982-05-22 | Scorpions RFC Scorpions RFC The Scorpions RFC is an invitation rugby team in East Africa that was established upon principles that have many parallels with the Barbarian F.C. in terms of values, playing style, selection policy and the lack of a home ground... |
RFUEA ground RFUEA Ground The RFUEA Ground is a rugby union stadium located on the Ngong Road in Nairobi, Kenya. It was purpose built to be the home of the national team and to serve as the headquarters of the Rugby Football Union of Kenya... , Nairobi Nairobi Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is... |
- | |
| 1982-05-25 | West Kenya Province | Nakuru Nakuru Nakuru, the provincial capital of Kenya's Rift Valley province, with roughly 300,000 inhabitants, and currently the fourth largest urban centre in the country, lies about 1850 m above sea level... |
- | |
| 1982-05-27 | Nondescripts RFC Nondescripts RFC Nondescripts Rugby Football Club is a Kenyan rugby club based in Nairobi. The club is the oldest in Kenya, and was founded in 1923 after the splitting of the Nairobi rugby club. The club 1st XV compete in the Kenya Cup, while the 2nd XV compete in the Eric Shirley Shield... |
Parklands Sports Club, Nairobi Nairobi Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is... |
- | |
| 1982-05-29 | Chairman's XV | RFUEA ground RFUEA Ground The RFUEA Ground is a rugby union stadium located on the Ngong Road in Nairobi, Kenya. It was purpose built to be the home of the national team and to serve as the headquarters of the Rugby Football Union of Kenya... , Nairobi Nairobi Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is... |
- | |
| 1982-06-02 | Mombasa RFC Mombasa Sports Club Mombasa Sports Club is multi-sport club based in Mombasa, Kenya. It also owns sporting facilities. The club was established in 1896, and it is among the oldest sporting clubs in Kenya.- Cricket :... |
Mombasa Sports Club Mombasa Sports Club Mombasa Sports Club is multi-sport club based in Mombasa, Kenya. It also owns sporting facilities. The club was established in 1896, and it is among the oldest sporting clubs in Kenya.- Cricket :... , Mombasa Mombasa Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry.... |
- | |
| 1982-06-05 | RFUEA ground RFUEA Ground The RFUEA Ground is a rugby union stadium located on the Ngong Road in Nairobi, Kenya. It was purpose built to be the home of the national team and to serve as the headquarters of the Rugby Football Union of Kenya... , Nairobi Nairobi Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is... |
- |
1982 Tour party
Notable players
An invitation to represent the A-As has delighted many players, be they just good club men or seasoned Internationals, over the last six decades. Amongst the legion of distinguished players to wear the jersey are:Members
The Wooden Spoon Anti-Assassins’ membership now includes over 100 internationals and four Past Presidents of the RFU. Bill BeaumontBill Beaumont
William "Bill" Blackledge Beaumont CBE was captain of the England rugby union team at a time when they struggled to win games. His greatest moment as captain was the unexpected 1980 Grand Slam. He played as a lock...
, the Lions Manager in New Zealand in 2005 and recently appointed Vice Chairman of the iRB
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...
is one of our members. Malcolm Phillips
Malcolm Phillips
Malcolm Phillips is a former rugby union international who represented England from 1958 to 1964.-Early life:Malcolm Phillips was born on 3 March 1935 in Prestbury...
, President of the RFU in 2005-2006 is the new Wooden Spoon A-As’ President.