Gloucestershire’s place in rugby league history will be celebrated this week with the unveiling of a green plaque commemorating the centenary of the first international series in Cheltenham.
The Great Britain rugby league team (under the name the Northern Union) played the New Zealand tourists (called the All Golds owing to their professionalism) at Cheltenham Rugby Union Club’s Athletic Ground in the third and deciding game of the first Test series.
In the Northern Union side were two sons of Gloucestershire; Arthur Smith and William Holder.
Arthur Smith was a forceful and enthusiastic performer; so much so that he earned the nickname ‘Mad’.
He began playing rugby at Yorkley before progressing to Cinderford and then on to Oldham in 1905.
His style of play suited the Northern Union game and he earned a Lancashire cap before appearing in all three test matches against the All Golds in 1908. His 247 appearances in the red and white hoops of Oldham garnered 21 tries.
William Holder signed for Hull from Gloucester in 1907. He was a well-regarded forward in rugby union, playing for Gloucestershire against the 1906 Springboks.
He played 293 games for Hull, scoring 30 tries and 3 goals. Although a forward, he was very quick and this meant that he had the occasional game in the three-quarters.
He scored tries for Hull against both the 1907-08 All Golds tourists and the 1908-09 Kangaroos. The match against the All Golds in Cheltenham was, however, his only international appearance.
In the crowd at the Athletic Ground that day was English rugby union international Alf Wood. He was recognised and approached by a delegation from Oldham Rugby League club and was signed by them in time for the start of the 1908-09 season.
Wood played 244 times for the Roughyeds kicking 342 goals in a 12 year career in Lancashire. He also played soccer for Oldham Athletic.
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about GR
L e a g u e
The Gloucestershire Rugby League is an organisation for local rugby league clubs in Gloucestershire. Our main activity currently is to promote rugby league through the County and give useful information about our sport to the public of Gloucestershire.
