Anthony Starks

Anthony Starks (11 August 1873 – January 1952) was an English dual-code international rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1890s and 1900s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Castleford RUFC,[4] as a forward, and representative level rugby league (RL) for England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Hull Kingston Rovers (captain), as a forward (prior to the specialist positions of; prop, hooker, second-row, loose forward), during the era of contested scrums.[2] England's Anthony Starks, and Wales' Jack Rhapps took the field in the inaugural rugby league international of Tuesday 5 April 1904 between England and Other Nationalities. Starks had made two rugby union Test appearances for England in 1896, and Rhapps had made a single rugby union Test appearance for Wales in 1897, and thus in April 1904 they became the world's first dual-code rugby internationals.

Anthony Starks
Personal information
Full nameAnthony Starks
Born11 August 1873
Castleford, England
DiedJanuary 1952 (aged 78)
Hull, England
Playing information
Rugby union
PositionForward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≤1895–≥96 Castleford RUFC
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≤1895–≥96 Yorkshire
1896 England 2 0 0 0 0
Rugby league
PositionForwards
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≤1904–≥04 Hull Kingston Rovers 223 34 72 0 246
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1897/98–98/99 Yorkshire ≥1
1904 England 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1][2][3]

Background

Anthony Starks' birth was registered in Castleford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, and his death aged 78 was registered in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England.

Playing career

International honours

Anthony Starks won caps for England (RU) while at Castleford in the 25–0 victory over Wales at Rectory Field, Blackheath on 4 January 1896, and the 4–10 defeat by Ireland at Meanwood Road, Leeds on 1 February 1896,[1] and won a cap playing as a forward, i.e number 8 (in an experimental 12-a-side team), and was captain for England (RL) while at Hull Kingston Rovers in the 3–9 defeat by Other Nationalities at Central Park, Wigan on Tuesday 5 April 1904, in the first ever international rugby league match.[5][3]

County honours

Anthony Starks won caps for Yorkshire (RU) while at Castleford in 1895–96.[6] and he won caps for Yorkshire (RL) while at Hull Kingston Rovers.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Anthony Starks played as a forward, i.e. number 8, in Hull Kingston Rovers' 0-6 defeat by Warrington in the 1905 Challenge Cup Final during the 1904–05 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 29 April 1905, in front of a crowd of 19,638.[7]

References
  1. "Statistics at en.espn.co.uk (RU)". en.espn.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk (RL)". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 1 April 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. "Castleford RUFC at pitchero.com". pitchero.com. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  5. Fagan, Sean. "The First International Rugby League Match". rl1895.com. Archived from the original on 1 April 2004. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  6. "Honours at castlefordrufc.org". castlefordrufc.org. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  7. Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 9 – 1904–05". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a
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