Samuel Houghton
Encyclopedia
Samuel "Sam" Houghton was a rugby union
and professional rugby league
footballer
of the 1890s who at representative level played for England
, and Cheshire, and at club level for Runcorn, and Birkenhead Wanderers, playing at Fullback, i.e. number 15. In January 1896 Houghton rejoined his former team Runcorn, who had switched to professional rugby league
the year before, though he never played at country level as a league player, as England
's first international wouldn't take place until 1904.
, while representing Runcorn at club level, for the encounter against Ireland in the 1892 Home Nations Championship
. Despite England winning 7-0, Houghton was replaced for the next match of the tournament by Thomas Coop
, who himself was uncapped before the match. It would take almost four years for Houghton to win his second cap, when he was chosen for the 1896 Home Nations Championship
. This was a key match for England, as it was the first international after the formation of the Northern League, and the selectors were now unable to call upon a large number of former players who had now turned professional. Houghton by this time had switched clubs from Runcorn to Birkenhead Wanderers, and on the 4 January 1896 he was called upon to face Wales in the opening game of the Championship. the match was a one-sided affair after the talented Welsh three-quarters, Owen Badger
, broke his collar bone within the first fifteen minutes and was forced to leave the pitch. England went on to win 25-0.
Despite being called back into the England team, and then being selected for the second match of the 1896 Championship against Ireland, Houghton switched codes before the 1 February fixture, joining his old club Runcorn. Runcorn who were previously a union team had turned professional in 1895, and by signing back to the club Houghton was now too a professional footballer and could therefore never represent a rugby union team at club or country level.
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...
and professional 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...
footballer
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
of the 1890s 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 Cheshire, and at club level for Runcorn, and Birkenhead Wanderers, playing at Fullback, i.e. number 15. In January 1896 Houghton rejoined his former team Runcorn, who had switched to professional 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...
the year before, though he never played at country level as a league player, as England
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
's first international wouldn't take place until 1904.
International honours
Sam Houghton won first selected to play 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 representing Runcorn at club level, for the encounter against Ireland in 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....
. Despite England winning 7-0, Houghton was replaced for the next match of the tournament by Thomas Coop
Thomas Coop
Thomas "Tom" Coop was an English rugby union footballer of the 1890s who at representative level played for England, and at club level for Leigh, playing at Fullback, i.e. number 15...
, who himself was uncapped before the match. It would take almost four years for Houghton to win his second cap, when he was chosen for the 1896 Home Nations Championship
1896 Home Nations Championship
The 1896 Home Nations Championship was the fourteenth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 4 January and 14 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.-Table:-Results:...
. This was a key match for England, as it was the first international after the formation of the Northern League, and the selectors were now unable to call upon a large number of former players who had now turned professional. Houghton by this time had switched clubs from Runcorn to Birkenhead Wanderers, and on the 4 January 1896 he was called upon to face Wales in the opening game of the Championship. the match was a one-sided affair after the talented Welsh three-quarters, Owen Badger
Owen Badger
Owen Badger was a Welsh international rugby centre who played rugby union for Llanelli and was capped four times for Wales. He later switched codes, playing professional rugby league for Swinton.-Rugby career:...
, broke his collar bone within the first fifteen minutes and was forced to leave the pitch. England went on to win 25-0.
Despite being called back into the England team, and then being selected for the second match of the 1896 Championship against Ireland, Houghton switched codes before the 1 February fixture, joining his old club Runcorn. Runcorn who were previously a union team had turned professional in 1895, and by signing back to the club Houghton was now too a professional footballer and could therefore never represent a rugby union team at club or country level.