Angus Stuart
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Angus Stuart (? – 8 October, 1923)[1] also known as Angus Stewart was a British rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff and Dewsbury. Although never capped at international level in 1888, Stuart was chosen to tour New Zealand and Australia as part of the first British Isles team. This unofficial tour did not play any international opposition and no caps were awarded.
Rugby career
Stuart first came to note as a rugby player when he joined Cardiff Football Club during their fledgling years in 1883. Stuart played 50 games for Cardiff and remained at the club until 1886.[2] In 1886 Stuart and fellow Cardiff player William "Buller" Stadden stated that they intended to join English team Dewsbury.[3] Both players stated that the reason for switching clubs was purely financial, as they were out of employment and had made friends with several Dewsbury players when the team toured Wales.[4] It was later discovered that the employment the players found in Dewsbury, was with Newsome, Sons and Spedding, a textiles company partially owned by Mark Newsome, president and former captain of Dewsbury. Although Cardiff later complained that this was backdoor professionalism, no evidence was found to prove that money had been exchanged and no charges were brought.
In 1888, Stuart was approached to join the first British overseas touring rugby team, on a trip to Australia and New Zealand. The tour was organised as a financial venture, and had no backing from any of the Home Nation Unions. Despite this, the tour went ahead, taking in 35 games against invitational and club teams. Stuart is recorded as having played in 23 games, scoring one try.
At the end of the tour, Stuart decided to remain in New Zealand and settled down there.[5]
Bibliography
- Davies, D.E. (1975). Cardiff Rugby Club, History and Statistics 1876-1975. Risca: The Starling Press. ISBN 0950442100.
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References
- ^ Angus Stuart player profile lionsrugby.com
- ^ Davies (1975), pg 225.
- ^ Davies (1975), pg 30.
- ^ Collins, Tony (1998). Rugby's Great Split, Class, Culture and Origins of Rugby League Football. Routledge. p. 56. ISBN 9780714648675.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Otago Witness 1909