Roger Walker (rugby)
Encyclopedia
Roger Walker was a rugby union
forward who played club rugby for Manchester Rugby Club
and international rugby for England
. Walker later became the President of the Rugby Football Union
, and in that role accompanied the British Isles
team on their 1896 tour of South Africa
.
Walker was also a notable cricketer, playing in two first class matches for Lancashire.
, only the fourth international rugby game to be played. In the days before forward positional play, Walker was classed simply as a forward, as part of the twenty man team. England won 1-0, thanks to a dropped goal from Freeman. The next year, Walker was back in the England team, this time in the very first international match for Ireland
. Played at the Kensington Oval
in London, England won two - nil. Walker played in three more international, all against Scotland
, in 1876, 1879 and 1880. England won the 1876 encounter, drew the 1879 game, which was the first contest for the Calcutta Cup
; and won the 1880 match. Walker finished his international career with four wins, a draw and no losses.
With his international career behind him, Walker continued his association with the sport of rugby by becoming the President of the Rugby Football Union, the national union of rugby in England. In 1896 he travelled with the British Isles, in the role as team manager. The tour, the second undertaken in South Africa, was a success for the tourists, winning three of the four Test matches against the South African national team
. In 1898, Walker was central in creating Reading R.F.C.
, along with G Rowland-Hill and G.R. Joyce.
and Marylebone Cricket Club
. He played in two first-class cricket
matches, both for Lancashire, against Darbyshire in 1874 and Marylebone in 1875. A right-handed batsman, Walker ended his first-class career with 27 runs from four innings, and as a wicket-keeper
in the field he did not record any bowling figures.
's painting "The Rugby Match", featuring Yorkshire's 11-3 victory over Lancashire
during the 1893/94 season, a painting that is now held at the Rugby Football Union
headquarters in the Twickenham Stadium
, Roger Walker can be seen in the crowd, he is the seventh person to the right of Tommy Dobson
's head.
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 Manchester Rugby Club
Manchester Rugby Club
Manchester Rugby Club, formerly known as Manchester Football Club, are one of the oldest rugby union clubs in existence, having been founded in 1860, 11 years before the RFU....
and international rugby for 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...
. Walker later became the President of the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
, and in that role accompanied the British Isles
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
team on their 1896 tour of South Africa
1896 British Lions tour to South Africa
1896 British Isles tour to South Africa was a rugby union tour undertaken by the British Isles, one of the first British and Irish Lions tours. The team toured South Africa for the second time in 1896. Between July 11 and September 5, they played 21 games, including four tests against South Africa...
.
Walker was also a notable cricketer, playing in two first class matches for Lancashire.
Rugby career
Walker came to note as a rugby player during the early history of the sport, playing club rugby for Manchester. In 1874, Walker was selected to play for the England national team, in a game against Scotland1873-74 Home Nations rugby union matches
The 1873–74 Home Nations rugby union matches was a single international friendly held between the England and Scotland national rugby union teams...
, only the fourth international rugby game to be played. In the days before forward positional play, Walker was classed simply as a forward, as part of the twenty man team. England won 1-0, thanks to a dropped goal from Freeman. The next year, Walker was back in the England team, this time in the very first international match for Ireland
1874-75 Home Nations rugby union matches
The 1874-75 Home Nations rugby union matches are a series of international friendlies held between the England, Ireland and Scotland national rugby union teams. This season of games was notable as it saw the first international appearance of the Ireland team....
. Played at the Kensington Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
in London, England won two - nil. Walker played in three more international, all against Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
, in 1876, 1879 and 1880. England won the 1876 encounter, drew the 1879 game, which was the first contest for the Calcutta Cup
Calcutta Cup
The Calcutta Cup is a rugby union trophy awarded to the winner of the annual Six Nations Championship match between England and Scotland. It is currently England's since the 2009 Six Nations Championship....
; and won the 1880 match. Walker finished his international career with four wins, a draw and no losses.
With his international career behind him, Walker continued his association with the sport of rugby by becoming the President of the Rugby Football Union, the national union of rugby in England. In 1896 he travelled with the British Isles, in the role as team manager. The tour, the second undertaken in South Africa, was a success for the tourists, winning three of the four Test matches against the South African national team
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
. In 1898, Walker was central in creating Reading R.F.C.
Reading R.F.C.
Reading R.F.C. is an English rugby union club, which runs senior and junior sides for both men and women. The 1st XV play in South West 1 East. The club is located in the village of Sonning, on the outskirts of Reading. The 1st XV are managed by Kevin Rackley with forwards coach Ben Hughes and...
, along with G Rowland-Hill and G.R. Joyce.
Cricket career
Walker played club cricket for several cricket teams between 1864 and 1901, including Gentlemen of Lancashire, Manchester Cricket Club, Bury Cricket ClubBury Cricket Club
Bury Cricket Club was founded in 1845, initially playing its cricket in the Townside district of the town. However, the arrival of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway required the club to seek pastures new...
and Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
. He played in two first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
matches, both for Lancashire, against Darbyshire in 1874 and Marylebone in 1875. A right-handed batsman, Walker ended his first-class career with 27 runs from four innings, and as a wicket-keeper
Wicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
in the field he did not record any bowling figures.
"The Rugby Match"
In William Barnes WollenWilliam Barnes Wollen
William Barnes Wollen was an English painter mostly known for his paintings of battle and historical scenes and sporting events.-Career:...
's painting "The Rugby Match", featuring Yorkshire's 11-3 victory over Lancashire
Lancashire County Rugby Football Union
The Lancashire County Rugby Football Union is the society responsible for rugby union in the county of Lancashire, England and is one of the constituent bodies of the national Rugby Football Union having been formed in 1881...
during the 1893/94 season, a painting that is now held at the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
headquarters in the Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
, Roger Walker can be seen in the crowd, he is the seventh person to the right of Tommy Dobson
Thomas Dobson (rugby)
Thomas "Tommy" Hyde Dobson was a rugby union footballer of the 1890s who at representative level played for England, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Bradford F.C., playing at Centre, i.e. number 12, or 13. Prior to the 27th August 1895, Bradford F.C...
's head.