James Holt Marsh
Encyclopedia
James Holt Marsh was an international rugby union
three-quarter who played club rugby for Swinton
. He is most notable as the only player to have represented two international teams in the Home Nations Championship
, Scotland
and England
. He was a General Practitioner by profession, holding a practice in Manchester for nearly forty years.
to study medicine. In 1889, Marsh was selected for the Scottish international team when he was chosen to face Wales as part of the 1890 Home Nations Championship
. At the time, Marsh was playing club rugby for the Edinburgh Institute Former Pupils team, and was brought in at three-quarters. Scotland beat Wales and Marsh was reselected for the second, and final game of the competition, away to Ireland at Belfast. With England having withdrawn from the tournament, a win over the Irish would give Scotland the Home Nations, but not the Grand Slam
. Scotland won the match thanks to a single dropped goal from Henry Stevenson
. Although Marsh found himself a Home Nations Champion, his international career with Scotland was over.
Although his rugby career with Scotland was behind him, Marsh continued playing rugby, and after moving to Manchester
to set up a medical practice, he turned out for union team Swinton. During the 1890-91 season his strong club play brought him to the attention of the English selectors, and he was brought into the annual North vs. South match. This in turn led to Marsh being selected for the 1892 Home Nations Championship
in the game against Ireland, playing again at threequarters alongside Dicky Lockwood
and George Hubbard
. The English team was victorious, but Marsh was not selected for the team again. It is unknown if this was due to sanctions or actions taken by the rugby unions or if it was a selection choice.
code to the rugby league
code on the 2nd of June 1896, James Holt Marsh would have been approximately 30 years of age. Consequently, he may have been both a rugby union and rugby league footballer for Swinton.
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...
three-quarter who played club rugby for Swinton
Swinton Lions
Swinton Lions is an English professional rugby league club from Swinton, Greater Manchester. The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. They currently play in the Championship.-Early years:...
. He is most notable as the only player to have represented two international teams in the Home Nations Championship
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
, Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
and 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...
. He was a General Practitioner by profession, holding a practice in Manchester for nearly forty years.
Rugby career
March was educated at Edinburgh Institute before being accepted at Edinburgh UniversityUniversity of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
to study medicine. In 1889, Marsh was selected for the Scottish international team when he was chosen to face Wales as part of the 1890 Home Nations Championship
1890 Home Nations Championship
The 1890 Home Nations Championship was the eighth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 1 February and 15 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.-Table:-Results:...
. At the time, Marsh was playing club rugby for the Edinburgh Institute Former Pupils team, and was brought in at three-quarters. Scotland beat Wales and Marsh was reselected for the second, and final game of the competition, away to Ireland at Belfast. With England having withdrawn from the tournament, a win over the Irish would give Scotland the Home Nations, but not the Grand Slam
Grand Slam (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, a Grand Slam occurs when one team in the Six Nations Championship manages to beat all the others during one year's competition...
. Scotland won the match thanks to a single dropped goal from Henry Stevenson
Henry Stevenson
Henry James Stevenson was a Scottish rugby union international and first-class cricketer.A fullback, Stevenson was capped 15 times for Scotland and took part in six Home Nations campaigns. This included being part of Scotland's 1891 Home Nations Triple Crown winning side as well as the team which...
. Although Marsh found himself a Home Nations Champion, his international career with Scotland was over.
Although his rugby career with Scotland was behind him, Marsh continued playing rugby, and after moving to Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
to set up a medical practice, he turned out for union team Swinton. During the 1890-91 season his strong club play brought him to the attention of the English selectors, and he was brought into the annual North vs. South match. This in turn led to Marsh being selected for the 1892 Home Nations Championship
1892 Home Nations Championship
The 1892 Home Nations Championship was the tenth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 2 January and 5 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales....
in the game against Ireland, playing again at threequarters alongside Dicky Lockwood
Richard Lockwood (rugby)
Richard "Dicky" Evison Lockwood was a rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1880s and '90s who at representative level played for England from 1887 to 1894, and was captain in January and February 1894, and at club level for Dewsbury , Heckmondwike /, and Wakefield Trinity...
and George Hubbard
George Hubbard
George Cairns 'Scatter' Hubbard was an English rugby union player who represented the England national rugby union team. He also played first-class cricket with Kent....
. The English team was victorious, but Marsh was not selected for the team again. It is unknown if this was due to sanctions or actions taken by the rugby unions or if it was a selection choice.
Change of Code
When Swinton 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 the 2nd of June 1896, James Holt Marsh would have been approximately 30 years of age. Consequently, he may have been both a rugby union and rugby league footballer for Swinton.