Bernard Gadney
Encyclopedia
Bernard Cecil Gadney was an English rugby union footballer who played as a scrum-half for Leicester Tigers
, England
and the British Lions
. Gadney won 14 England caps between 1932 and 1938 and was captain on eight occasions.
Born in Oxford
, he was educated at Dragon School
and Stowe
. His brother Cyril Gadney was an international rugby referee and President of the RFU. He made his Leicester debut in 1929 and went on to make 170 appearances for the club. He made his England debut v Ireland in 1932, and was appointed captain in 1934, becoming Leicester's first England captain, and leading England to the Triple Crown
. In 1936 he led England to a win against the All Blacks
at Twickenham
- a game known as Obolensky's
game. Later in the same year, he led a Great Britain
team to a 10-0 winning series against .
After retiring from international rugby he became headmaster of Malsis School
, a prep school
. During the Second World War he served as an officer in the Royal Navy
.
Shortly after his death, Gadney was, along with Nick Farr-Jones
inducted into the Museum of Rugby
wall of fame in 2000 - the first to be inducted.
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010...
, 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 the British Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
. Gadney won 14 England caps between 1932 and 1938 and was captain on eight occasions.
Born in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, he was educated at Dragon School
Dragon School
The Dragon School is a British coeducational, preparatory school in the city of Oxford, founded in 1877 as the Oxford Preparatory School, or OPS. It is primarily known as a boarding school, although it also takes day pupils...
and Stowe
Stowe School
Stowe School is an independent school in Stowe, Buckinghamshire. It was founded on 11 May 1923 by J. F. Roxburgh, initially with 99 male pupils. It is a member of the Rugby Group and Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school is also a member of the G20 Schools Group...
. His brother Cyril Gadney was an international rugby referee and President of the RFU. He made his Leicester debut in 1929 and went on to make 170 appearances for the club. He made his England debut v Ireland in 1932, and was appointed captain in 1934, becoming Leicester's first England captain, and leading England to the Triple Crown
Triple Crown (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, the Triple Crown is an honour contested annually by the four national teams of the British Isles who compete within the larger Six Nations Championship: England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. If any one team manages to win all their games against the other three they win the...
. In 1936 he led England to a win against the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
- a game known as Obolensky's
Alexander Obolensky
Prince Alexander Sergeevich Obolensky was a Russian Rurikid prince and an international rugby union footballer who played for England. He was popularly known as just "The Prince" by many sports fans.-Biography:...
game. Later in the same year, he led a Great Britain
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
team to a 10-0 winning series against .
After retiring from international rugby he became headmaster of Malsis School
Malsis School
The Malsis School is located in Crosshills, North Yorkshire, England. It was founded around 1086 and the school was formed in 1920.-External links:* 1086-1956* 1920-1998* official Home page* *...
, a prep school
Preparatory school (UK)
In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
. During the Second World War he served as an officer in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.
Shortly after his death, Gadney was, along with Nick Farr-Jones
Nick Farr-Jones
Nicholas Campbell Farr-Jones is a former Australian rugby union footballer. His position was scrum-half. He attended Newington College and St Andrew's College within the University of Sydney...
inducted into the Museum of Rugby
Museum of Rugby
The World Rugby Museum, previously the Museum of Rugby, is a museum concerned with the sport of rugby union located at the home of the England national rugby union team, Twickenham Stadium in West London, England. It was established in 1996....
wall of fame in 2000 - the first to be inducted.