Full name Ronald William Poulton-Palmer
Born
September 12, 1889, Headington
Died
May 5, 1915, Ploegsteert Wood (aged 25 years 235 days)
Major teams England
Position Centre
|
Span | Mat | Start | Sub | Pts | Tries | Conv | Pens | Drop | GfM | Won | Lost | Draw | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All Tests | 1909-1914 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 28 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 82.35 |
Five/Six Nations | 1909-1914 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 25 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 86.66 |
Test debut | England v France at Leicester, Jan 30, 1909 match details |
Last Test | France v England at Colombes, Apr 13, 1914 match details |
Test Statsguru | Main menu | Career summary | Match list | Most points | Most tries | Tournament list |
Ronald Poulton was one of the foremost figures in English rugby at the turn of the 20th century. A centre of great ability and possessor of a beguiling swerve, Poulton won 17 caps for England and scored eight tries before he was killed by a sniper's bullet during fighting at Ploegsteert Wood on May 5, 1915.
Poulton was the heir to the Huntley and Palmer biscuit business in Reading, and alongside his rugby achievements also studied at Oxford University, scoring five tries in the 1909 Varsity match against Cambridge. He also found time to turn out for both Harlequins and the Barbarians during his short career.
Poulton (who added Palmer to his name in 1914 after becoming heir to the biscuit fortune) eventually captained England during their 1913-14 Grand Slam season, scoring four tries against France at Stade Colombes - a Championship feat that was not matched until England winger Chris Ashton bagged four tries against Italy in 2011.
Despite his commitments in England, Poulton volunteered immediately for service with the Royal Berkshire regiment in 1914, arriving on the Western Front in 1915.
Communication error please reload the page.