Arthur George Paul (24 July 1864 – 14 January 1942)[1] was an Irish sportsman who played rugby union as a full back, playing club rugby for Swinton and represented Lancashire[2] as a first-class cricketer. Paul was not selected for the England or Ireland rugby teams, but in 1888 he was chosen for the New Zealand and Australia tour as part of the first British Isles team.
Birth name | Arthur George Paul | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 24 July 1864 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Belfast, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of death | 14 January 1942 | (aged 77)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of death | Didsbury, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Rugby career
editIn 1888, Paul was invited to join the first British rugby overseas tour. The tour was managed by two cricketers, Arthur Shrewsbury and Alfred Shaw, but it was not supported by any of the rugby unions and no matches were arranged with national teams. The tour took in both Australia and New Zealand and 35 rugby matches were played against invitational teams. Paul was selected to play at full back, and took part in 29 matches, kicking 13 conversions and one dropped goal.
Bibliography
edit- Griffiths, John (1982). The Book of English International Rugby 1872-1982. London: Willow Books. ISBN 0002180065.
References
edit- ^ "British & Irish Lions | Home". www.lionsrugby.com. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ Arthur Paul cricket career cricinfo.com