St. George’s Hospital Medical School RFC
Encyclopedia
St. George’s Hospital Medical School RFC is one of the oldest rugby clubs in the world having been founded in 1863. The side is notable for its long history, its participation in the oldest competition in rugby, the United Hospitals Cup
, as well as having produced a large number of international players, especially in the sport of rugby's formative years.
. Despite its founding date, it was not one of the founding clubs of the rugby football union in 1871. The club saw its match list increase as there was an expansion in the number of clubs, and in 1867 the United Hospitals RFC
was formed as a focal point for the London Medical Schools. This body instituted in 1874 the cup competition known as the United Hospitals Challenge Cup (also known as the Inter-Hospital Challenge Cup) and St George's was in the first final played on Wednesday 3rd March 1875 at The Oval
. The match predated by four years the first Calcutta Cup
match and is the oldest cup competition in the game of rugby. The opponents were Guy's Hospital Football Club and was played in front of 400 spectators. Guy's, wore an orange and blue kit, and kicked the game off, whilst St George's wore green jersey, green shorts with brown socks. Guy's won but St George's got their revenge the next season. When this game was played matches were won by goals rather than points. A goal was a converted try, and tries themselves only value in the case of a draw in which case they would be counted up as the deciding factor. Guy's Hospital won the game by 1 Goal (a converted try) and 1 try to 2 tries. The records say that the three additional 'tries' were all defensive touch downs. The game was also notable for fielding 15 players per side at a time when all international matches, the Varsity Match, County matches and all other top level games were being played with 20 players per side and would continue to do so until 1877.
St George's went on to win the cup twice more, in 1880 and 1882. Notably, St George's also fielded 5 international players in the 1870s. However, after St George's triumph in 1882, they have never again won the competition, despite the fact that they have competed in the cup every year it has been played. The club then appears to have reached its zenith of achievement in the first two decades of its existence. Despite this, it is still in existence and in fact is the only one of the United Hospitals members that is in the same form as it was at inception, the other schools all having been through a series of mergers and in most cases renaming. This is due to George’s being the only remaining free standing medical school in the country. However, it is still able to field two competitive male rugby sides; as well a ladies team.
. They have won the Inter-Hospital Challenge Cup on three occasions, all within the first decade of the competitions:
The team reached the final of the competition during the 2010-2011 season, finishing Runner-up to Imperial College.
(first capped 1872) - William Edward Collins
(first capped 1875) - Edward Beadon Turner
(first capped 1875) - George R. Turner (first capped 1876) - Henry Herbert Taylor
(first capped 1879)
Capped prior to playing for St George's: - William Eldon Tucker
(first capped 1894) - Alfred Clunies-Ross
(first capped 1871)
United Hospitals Cup
The United Hospitals Challenge Cup is contested by the six medical schools in London and is most notable for being the oldest rugby cup competition in the world.-History:...
, as well as having produced a large number of international players, especially in the sport of rugby's formative years.
History
St. George’s Hospital Medical School RFC was founded in 1863 for the students of the St. George’s Hospital Medical SchoolSt George's, University of London
St George's, University of London is a medical school located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. Despite its founding date, it was not one of the founding clubs of the rugby football union in 1871. The club saw its match list increase as there was an expansion in the number of clubs, and in 1867 the United Hospitals RFC
United Hospitals RFC
The United Hospitals Rugby Football Club represents the six medical schools in London, each of whom have their own distinct rugby clubs but from whom are picked a select fifteen to compete for UHRFC. The club exists to encourage and facilitate rugby at these institutions...
was formed as a focal point for the London Medical Schools. This body instituted in 1874 the cup competition known as the United Hospitals Challenge Cup (also known as the Inter-Hospital Challenge Cup) and St George's was in the first final played on Wednesday 3rd March 1875 at The 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...
. The match predated by four years the first 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....
match and is the oldest cup competition in the game of rugby. The opponents were Guy's Hospital Football Club and was played in front of 400 spectators. Guy's, wore an orange and blue kit, and kicked the game off, whilst St George's wore green jersey, green shorts with brown socks. Guy's won but St George's got their revenge the next season. When this game was played matches were won by goals rather than points. A goal was a converted try, and tries themselves only value in the case of a draw in which case they would be counted up as the deciding factor. Guy's Hospital won the game by 1 Goal (a converted try) and 1 try to 2 tries. The records say that the three additional 'tries' were all defensive touch downs. The game was also notable for fielding 15 players per side at a time when all international matches, the Varsity Match, County matches and all other top level games were being played with 20 players per side and would continue to do so until 1877.
St George's went on to win the cup twice more, in 1880 and 1882. Notably, St George's also fielded 5 international players in the 1870s. However, after St George's triumph in 1882, they have never again won the competition, despite the fact that they have competed in the cup every year it has been played. The club then appears to have reached its zenith of achievement in the first two decades of its existence. Despite this, it is still in existence and in fact is the only one of the United Hospitals members that is in the same form as it was at inception, the other schools all having been through a series of mergers and in most cases renaming. This is due to George’s being the only remaining free standing medical school in the country. However, it is still able to field two competitive male rugby sides; as well a ladies team.
Competition
The team competes twice a week throughout the year and plays in the British University leagues, the Surrey league (as Georges-Mitcham although in the Surrey League simply known as Mitcham.) and the National Association of Medics Cup as well as the aforementioned United Hospitals CupUnited Hospitals Cup
The United Hospitals Challenge Cup is contested by the six medical schools in London and is most notable for being the oldest rugby cup competition in the world.-History:...
. They have won the Inter-Hospital Challenge Cup on three occasions, all within the first decade of the competitions:
- 1876
- 1880
- 1882
The team reached the final of the competition during the 2010-2011 season, finishing Runner-up to Imperial College.
| Hospital Team | First Competed | Last Competed | Current Status | Wins | Total Wins including constituent elements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St George’s | 1874 | present | Active | 3 | 3 |
International Players
- James MackinlayJames Mackinlay
James Mackinlay was a rugby union international who represented England from 1872 to 1875.-Early life:James Mackinlay was born on December 17, 1850 in Guildford. He attended Oxford University and went on to study medicine at St...
(first capped 1872) - William Edward Collins
William Collins (sportsman, born 1853)
William Edward Collins MB MRCS CMG was a sportsman and politician...
(first capped 1875) - Edward Beadon Turner
Edward Beadon Turner
Edward Beadon Turner was an English medical doctor and medical administrator. Turner was a powerful orator and made himself available to multiple medical committees...
(first capped 1875) - George R. Turner (first capped 1876) - Henry Herbert Taylor
Henry Taylor (rugby union)
Henry Taylor was a rugby union international who represented England from 1879 to 1882.-Early life:Henry Taylor was born on September 21, 1858 in Greenwich. He attended Merchant Taylors' School.-Rugby union career:...
(first capped 1879)
Capped prior to playing for St George's: - William Eldon Tucker
William Eldon Tucker
William Eldon Tucker was a Bermudian rugby union player who played club rugby for Cambridge University, St. George's Hospital and Blackheath. Tucker gained his first of five international caps when he was selected for England in 1894...
(first capped 1894) - Alfred Clunies-Ross
Alfred Clunies-Ross
Alfred Clunies-Ross was a rugby union international who represented Scotland in the first international rugby match in 1871.-Early life:Alfred was born around 1851 in the Cocos Islands the son of John George Clunies-Ross, second ruler-proprietor of the Cocos Islands, referred to by the press as...
(first capped 1871)