Philip Nicholas

Philip Nicholas
Birth name	Philip Leach Nicholas
Date of birth	30 May 1876
Place of birth	Monmouth, Wales
Date of death	31 January 1952 (aged 75)
Place of death	Barnstaple, England
School	Monmouth School
University	Oxford University
Occupation(s)	Clergyman
Rugby union career
Position(s)
Position(s)	wing
Amateur team(s)
Years	Team
	Monmouth RFC
–	Oxford University RFC
–	Exeter RFC
–	Barbarian F.C.
–	Devon
International career
Years	Team
1902	England

Philip Leach Nicholas (30 May 1876 – 31 January 1952)^[1] was an international rugby union wing who played club rugby for Oxford University and Exeter. Nicolas played one international rugby game for England in 1902.

Personal history

Philip Nicholas was born in Monmouth in 1876,^[2] the son of Thomas Leach Nicholas, a proprietor of a small chemical works, and his wife Julia Elizabeth.^[3] He was educated locally at Monmouth School before matriculating to Oxford University. After leaving university he became a clergyman and he was ordained in 1908. He moved to Devon where he was married to Annie Margaret. Nicolas died in 1952 and was buried at St. John the Baptist's Church Cemetery in Bishop's Tawton, Devon.^[4]

Rugby career

Nicholas played rugby from a young age representing Monmouth School and Monmouth. When he went to Oxford University, he was selected to play for the university team and won three successive sporting Blues by playing in the Varsity Matches of 1897, 1898 and 1899. On leaving Oxford he moved to Devon and there he joined Exeter RFC and was also selected to represent Devon at county level. During his time with Devon, the county won the County Championship of 1900–01, which was also the season he represented the Rest of England.^[5]

In 1902, while an Exeter player, Nicolas was selected for his one and only international cap for England. He was called into the team at wing for the opening game of the 1902 Home Nations Championship, played at the Rectory Field in Blackheath against Wales, his home country.^[6] Wales won by a narrow 9–8 scoreline, and in the next game of the season Nicholas was not selected, his short international career was over.

International caps

England

Wales 1902

References

^ "Philip Nicholas player profile". Scrum.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
^ According to the 1881 Census
^ "Philip Leach Nicholas grave monument details". gravestonephotos.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
^ Maule (1992) p.115
^ "Home Nations - Blackheath, 11 January 1902: England (8) 8 - 9 (3) Wales (FT)". scrum.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2012.

Bibliography

Marshall, Howard; Jordon, J.P. (1951). Oxford v Cambridge, The Story of the University Rugby Match. London: Clerke & Cockeran.
Maule, Raymond (1992). The Complete Who's Who of England Rugby Union Internationals. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 1-873626-10-X.

[1] "Philip Nicholas player profile". Scrum.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2012.

[2] "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 2 June 2012.

[3] According to the 1881 Census

[4] "Philip Leach Nicholas grave monument details". gravestonephotos.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2012.

[5] Maule (1992) p.115

[6] "Home Nations - Blackheath, 11 January 1902: England (8) 8 - 9 (3) Wales (FT)". scrum.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2012.

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