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Thomas Hollingdale

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Wales international rugby union player (1900–1978)

Rugby player
Tom Hollingdale
Hollingdale in 1928
Birth nameThomas Henry Hollingdale
Date of birth(1900-11-12)12 November 1900
Place of birthWaunarlwydd, Wales
Date of death14 April 1978(1978-04-14) (aged 77)
Place of deathHounslow, England
SchoolWaunarlwydd School
Gowerton County School
Notable relative(s)Bert Hollingdale (brother – also capped for Wales)
Occupation(s)cleric
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number eight
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Waunarlwydd RFC ()
– Gowerton RFC ()
– Briton Ferry RFC ()
– Ammanford RFC ()
– Neath RFC ()
– Neath Borough Police RFC ()
– Glamorgan County RFC ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1927–1930 Wales 6 (0)

The Rev Thomas "Tom" Henry Hollingdale AKC (12 November 1900 – 14 April 1978), was a Church of England cleric and Wales international rugby player.

Rugby career

Thomas Hollingdale was born in Waunarlwydd on 12 November 1900. He attended Waunarlwydd School and Gowerton County School. He played his club rugby for Ammanford and Neath and captained Glamorganshire. In September 1927, he played for a combined Aberavon and Neath XV against the touring New South Wales Waratahs and a few weeks later, played for Wales against the Waratahs – this is now treated as a full international. He was capped in total six times for Wales in the late 1920s. On 26 November 1930 he played for a Welsh International XV against Reading, but never again represented his country.

International matches played

Subsequent career

Hollingdale was employed in the local steel works and later as a policeman (PC number 22 on the Neath Police Force), before studying theology at King's College London, where he became an Associate of King's College (AKC). Following his ordination, he worked as a curate in Upminster and subsequently as vicar of the parish of Stratford in East London. From 1948 to 1959 he was vicar of St Peter's, Colchester — a living controlled by the Simeon Trust. During this time he contributed articles to rugby magazines and other publications and was President of Colchester RFC. Thereafter, he became rector of the parish of Copford, Essex until he retired in 1968.

He married Leah Williams in April 1921 at Swansea and they had three daughters – Joan, Mercia and Muriel (who was known by her second name, Shirley).

He died on 14 April 1978 in Hounslow.

References

  1. Tom Hollingdale. Welsh Rugby Union
  2. David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881–1981. University of Wales Press. p. 467. ISBN 0708307663.
  3. D/D Con/N: Neath Constabulary. swansea.gov.uk
  4. Chelmsford Chronicle, 25 September 1936
  5. Local History. copfordchurch.org.uk
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