Harry Bedford (rugby)
Encyclopedia
Harry Bedford was a rugby union
footballer of the 1880s and '90s who at representative level played for England
, and at club level for Batley
, playing in the Forwards, e.g. Front row, Lock, or Back row. Prior to 29 August 1895, Batley was a rugby union club.
while at Batley in 1889 against New Zealand Natives
, and in 1890 against Scotland, and Ireland.
In the early years of rugby football the goal was to score goals, and a try
had zero value, but it provided the opportunity to try at goal, and convert the try to a goal with an unopposed kick at the goal posts. The point values of both the try and goal have varied over time, and in the early years footballers could "score" a try, without scoring any points.
code to the rugby league
code on 29 August 1895, Harry Bedford would have been approximately 29 years of age. Consequently, he may have been both a rugby union and rugby league footballer for Batley.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer of the 1880s and '90s who at representative level played for England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
, and at club level for Batley
Batley Bulldogs
Batley Bulldogs are an English professional rugby league club from Batley, West Yorkshire. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Batley is one of the original twenty-two rugby football clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895...
, playing in the Forwards, e.g. Front row, Lock, or Back row. Prior to 29 August 1895, Batley was a rugby union club.
International honours
Harry Bedford won caps for EnglandEngland national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
while at Batley in 1889 against New Zealand Natives
New Zealand Maori rugby union team
New Zealand Māori is a rugby union team that traditionally plays teams touring New Zealand. A prerequisite for playing in this team is that the player is to have Māori whakapapa or genealogy. In the past this rule was not strictly applied. In the past non-Māori players who looked Māori were often...
, and in 1890 against Scotland, and Ireland.
In the early years of rugby football the goal was to score goals, and a try
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
had zero value, but it provided the opportunity to try at goal, and convert the try to a goal with an unopposed kick at the goal posts. The point values of both the try and goal have varied over time, and in the early years footballers could "score" a try, without scoring any points.
Change of Code
When Batley converted from the rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
code to the rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
code on 29 August 1895, Harry Bedford would have been approximately 29 years of age. Consequently, he may have been both a rugby union and rugby league footballer for Batley.