Tom White (rugby)

For the rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s and 1920s for St. Helens, see Tom White (rugby league, born 1893). For other people with the same name, see Thomas White.

Tom White (c. 1885 – February 1943) was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Somerset, at armed services level for the Army, and at club level for Bath (two spells) (captain) and Bristol as a goal-kicking scrum-half or fly-half/outside-half, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, England and Lancashire, and at club level for Oldham, as a goal-kicking wing, stand-off, or scrum-half.^[1][3]

Tom White

Personal information
Born	c. 1885 Bath, England
Died	February 1943 (aged 58) Oldham, England
Playing information
Rugby union
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1902–≤03 Bath 27 ≤1903–≤03 Bristol ≤1904–04 Bath Total 27 0 0 0 0 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P ≤1905–≤05 Somerset
Rugby league
Position	Wing, Stand-off, Scrum-half
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1905–13 Oldham 224 49 81 309 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1906 Lancashire 1 1 0 0 3 1908–11 England 5 2 0 0 6 1908 Great Britain 1 0 1 0 2
Source: [1][2]

Background

Tom White was born in Bath, Somerset, England, and he served with the Manchester Regiment during World War I.^[3] He died in February 1943.^[4]

Rugby union career

Tom White made his début for Bath against Knowle RFC (in Knowle, Bristol) on Saturday 15 February 1902, he transferred from Bath to Bristol, he transferred from Bristol to Bath, he played his last match for Bath against Taunton R.F.C. on Saturday 16 April 1904, he changed rugby football codes from rugby union to rugby league when he transferred from Bath to Oldham during February 1905.

Tom White won cap(s) for Somerset (RU) while at Bath/Bristol. He was a non-playing reserve-to-travel for England (RU) against Ireland in the 1904 Home Nations Championship match at Rectory Field, Blackheath, London on Saturday 13 February 1904.

Rugby league career

Oldham

White made his début for Oldham in the 8–5 victory over Bradford F.C. at Watersheddings, Oldham on Monday 20 March 1905, he scored his last try, and played his last match for Oldham in the 7–10 defeat by Leigh at Mather Lane (adjacent to the Bridgewater Canal), Leigh on Saturday 13 December 1913.

Tom White played in Oldham's victory in the Championship during the 1904–05 season,^[5] and played scrum-half and scored two tries in the 20–7 victory over Wigan in the Championship Final during the 1910–11 season at Wheater's Field, Broughton, Salford on Saturday 6 May 1911, in front of a crowd of 15,543.^[6]

White played right wing in Oldham's 3–17 defeat by Warrington in the 1907 Championship Final during the 1906–07 season at Wheater's Field, Broughton, Salford on Saturday 27 April 1907, in front of a crowd of 18,500.^[7]

White played stand-off in Oldham's 16–9 victory over Broughton Rangers in the 1907–08 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1907–08 season at Athletic Grounds, Rochdale on Saturday 30 November 1907,^[8] played stand-off in the 9–10 defeat by Wigan in the 1908–09 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1908–09 season at Wheater's Field, Broughton, Salford on Saturday 19 December 1908,^[9][10] played stand-off in the 4–3 victory over Swinton in the 1910–11 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1910–11 season at Wheater's Field, Broughton, Salford on Saturday 3 December 1910,^[6] and played stand-off in the 5–0 victory over Wigan in the 1913–14 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1913–14 season at Wheater's Field, Broughton, Salford on Saturday 6 December 1913.^[11]

Representative honours

White won caps for England (RL) while at Oldham in 1908 against Wales, in 1910 against Wales (2 matches), in 1911 against Wales, and Australia, and won a cap for Great Britain (RL) while at Oldham in 1908 against New Zealand.

He also won cap(s) for Lancashire (RL) while at Oldham.

References

1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
2. "Player Summary: Tom White". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
3. "Statistics at orl-heritagetrust.org.uk". orl-heritagetrust.org.uk. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
4. "Former Bath Rugby Player". Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald. 6 February 1943. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
5. The Umpire (1905). Oldham Football Team - Winners of the Northern League Championship, Season 1904–05. The Umpire. ISBN n/a
6. Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 16 – 1910–11". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a
7. Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 12 – 1906–07". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a
8. Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 13 – 1907–08". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a
9. Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 14 – 1908–09". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a
10. "1908–1909 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
11. Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 19 – 1913–14". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a

External links

• Statistics at bathrugbyheritage.org
• Match Reports - 1903-1904 at bathrugbyheritage.org
• Match Reports - 1904-1905 at bathrugbyheritage.org
• 1905-1906 Anecdotes at bathrugbyheritage.org