Charles Nicholl
Encyclopedia
Charles "Boomer" Bowen Nicholl (19 June 1870 - 9 July 1939) was a Welsh
international rugby union
forward who played club rugby for Cambridge University
and Llanelli
. Nicholl played for Wales
on fifteen occasions during the 1891
and 1896 Home Nations Championship
s, and was part of the historic 1893
Triple Crown
winning team.
Nicholl was recognised as an 'uncompromising' forward and was described as "The most distinguished member of the least distinguished college ... fond of smoking and a connoisseur of exhilarating beverages, in which strength rather than delicacy of bouquet is a predominant feature"
, Carmarthenshire
in 1870 to Thomas Beynon Nicholl; he was educated at Llandovery College
before graduating to Queens' College, Cambridge
in 1890. He was awarded his BA
in 1893, but did not complete his MA
until 1906. While at Cambridge he won five sporting Blues, four in rugby between 1890 and 1893, and one in athletics in 1893. After leaving university Nicholl became Assistant Master at Blair Lodge School for two years before spending four year at Aravon School in Bray.
In 1902 Nicholl was ordained
a deacon at Lincoln Cathedral
and the next year took his orders as a priest. From 1902 through to 1908 he was the Curate
of Grantham, and in 1902 was also the Assistant Master at The King's School, Grantham
, a post he held until 1910. From 1908 to 1910 he became the Rector
of Wyville
. In 1910 he took on the position of Head Master of The King's School, Grantham
, but during this period, until 1917 he took no further religious posts. On leaving Grantham he took the post as Rector of Clayhidon
, a position he held until his death in 1939.
representing his country while still at Llandovery. Nicholl won a place at Cambridge University, and in 1890 was chosen to represent the university rugby team. He was described as an 'outstanding forward' for the Cambridge pack, and represented the team for four years, captaining the side in the 1892/93 season.
While still at Cambridge, and before his international career began, Nicholl became one of the founding members of the Barbarians
. And although Nicholl did not play in the first ever Barbarian game, he represented the team during the first tour and served as a committee man for the club.
After losing the two opening matches of the 1891 Home Nations Championship, the Wales selection committee brought in four new forwards into the Welsh pack to face Ireland on 7 March. Three, Tom Deacon
and John
and David Samuel
, were from Swansea RFC
; with Nicholl taking the remaining position. Played at Stradey Park
, the game was only decided by a goal conversion from Billy Bancroft
, giving Wales the victory and Ireland the wooden spoon. From that match, Nicholl became a regular fixture in the Welsh pack. Of his 15 caps for Wales he only missed one international match over a 16 game run, taking in five Home Nations Championships
. Most notably, Nicholls was part of the 1893 team which saw Wales not only win the Championship, but lift the Triple Crown for the first time in the country's history. The next year's tournament
saw Nicholl play the first two matches against England and Scotland, but then miss the final game away to Ireland, his place taken by Neath's
Fred Hutchinson
. Nicholl played in all three matches of the 1895 Championship
, but 1896 saw a shift in the selection tactics employed by the Welsh Rugby Union
. After a humiliating defeat by England in the opening game of the 1896 Championship
the selectors decided to discard many of the forward players who had served Wales over the past four seasons, including Triple Crown winners like Wallace Watts
and Arthur Boucher
, favouring a new type of player emerging from the South Wales coalfields. Dubbed the 'Rhondda forward', these players were selected from tough manual workers who could not only scrummage and jump, but could take and respond to a more physical game. Although a product of the university system, Nicholl was well known for his hard style of play, and survived until the end of the season but was replaced by Llwynypia's
Dick Hellings
in 1897.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
international rugby union
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...
forward who played club rugby for Cambridge University
Cambridge University R.U.F.C.
The Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club, or CURUFC, is the rugby union club of Cambridge University, and plays Oxford University in the annual Varsity Match at Twickenham stadium every December. CURUFC players wear light blue and white hooped jerseys with a red lion crest...
and Llanelli
Llanelli RFC
Llanelli Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club founded in 1875 and its senior team is one of the leading club sides in Wales. The club began the 2008-09 season at their historic home ground of Stradey Park in Llanelli, but moved in November 2008 to the new Parc y Scarlets in adjacent...
. Nicholl played for Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
on fifteen occasions during the 1891
1891 Home Nations Championship
The 1891 Home Nations Championship was the ninth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 3 January and 7 March...
and 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:...
s, and was part of the historic 1893
1893 Home Nations Championship
The 1893 Home Nations Championship was the eleventh series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 17 January and 11 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales...
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...
winning team.
Nicholl was recognised as an 'uncompromising' forward and was described as "The most distinguished member of the least distinguished college ... fond of smoking and a connoisseur of exhilarating beverages, in which strength rather than delicacy of bouquet is a predominant feature"
Early life
Nicholl was born in LlanegwadLlanegwad
Llanegwad is a community located in Carmarthenshire, Wales.Llanegwad is built up mainly of small farms and detached homes. Most of all homes located in Llanegwad are older Victorian properties; As well as a number of more modern homes...
, Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
in 1870 to Thomas Beynon Nicholl; he was educated at Llandovery College
Llandovery College
Llandovery College is an independent school in Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It was founded and endowed by Thomas Phillips in 1847 to provide a classical and liberal education in which the Welsh language; the study of Welsh literature and history were also to be cultivated.Llandovery...
before graduating to Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
in 1890. He was awarded his BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1893, but did not complete his MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
until 1906. While at Cambridge he won five sporting Blues, four in rugby between 1890 and 1893, and one in athletics in 1893. After leaving university Nicholl became Assistant Master at Blair Lodge School for two years before spending four year at Aravon School in Bray.
In 1902 Nicholl was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
a deacon at Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral is a historic Anglican cathedral in Lincoln in England and seat of the Bishop of Lincoln in the Church of England. It was reputedly the tallest building in the world for 249 years . The central spire collapsed in 1549 and was not rebuilt...
and the next year took his orders as a priest. From 1902 through to 1908 he was the Curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
of Grantham, and in 1902 was also the Assistant Master at The King's School, Grantham
The King's School, Grantham
The King's School is a British grammar school located in the market town of Grantham, in Lincolnshire, England, and one of the oldest schools in the UK.-History:...
, a post he held until 1910. From 1908 to 1910 he became the Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Wyville
Wyville
Wyville with Hungerton, or indeed Hungerton-cum-Wyville is a village and civil parish about five miles southwest of Grantham in South Kesteven, Lincolnshire, England. It is also an ecclesiastical parish of the Harlaxton Group of the Grantham Deanery in the Diocese of Lincoln...
. In 1910 he took on the position of Head Master of The King's School, Grantham
The King's School, Grantham
The King's School is a British grammar school located in the market town of Grantham, in Lincolnshire, England, and one of the oldest schools in the UK.-History:...
, but during this period, until 1917 he took no further religious posts. On leaving Grantham he took the post as Rector of Clayhidon
Clayhidon
Clayhidon is a village and parish in East Devon. The parish church is St. Andrews. The parish is in the Blackdown Hills and lies close to the Somerset border. Current information about life in the parish can be found on a community website, launched in March 2011...
, a position he held until his death in 1939.
Rugby career
Nicholl first came to note as a rugby player while studying at Llandovery College. The college already had a history of providing young talent, with Charles LewisCharles Lewis (rugby player)
Charles Prytherch Lewis was a Welsh international rugby union player, who won five caps between 1882 and 1884.-Life:...
representing his country while still at Llandovery. Nicholl won a place at Cambridge University, and in 1890 was chosen to represent the university rugby team. He was described as an 'outstanding forward' for the Cambridge pack, and represented the team for four years, captaining the side in the 1892/93 season.
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
. And although Nicholl did not play in the first ever Barbarian game, he represented the team during the first tour and served as a committee man for the club.
After losing the two opening matches of the 1891 Home Nations Championship, the Wales selection committee brought in four new forwards into the Welsh pack to face Ireland on 7 March. Three, Tom Deacon
Tom Deacon
Thomas 'Tom' Deacon was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Swansea and international rugby for Wales- Rugby career :...
and John
John Samuel
John Samuel was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Swansea and international rugby for Wales. He played just one game for Wales, notable for being selected alongside his brother David Samuel...
and David Samuel
David Samuel (rugby player)
David Samuel was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Swansea and international rugby for Wales. He is most notable as being a member of the very first Welsh Triple Crown winning team, in 1893....
, were from Swansea RFC
Swansea RFC
Swansea Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. Its home ground is St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. The team is sometimes known as The Whites because of the primary colour of the team strip...
; with Nicholl taking the remaining position. Played at Stradey Park
Stradey Park
Stradey Park was a rugby union stadium located near the centre of the town of Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It was the home of the Scarlets region and Llanelli RFC rugby teams. The stadium was a combination of seating and standing with a total capacity of 10,800...
, the game was only decided by a goal conversion from Billy Bancroft
Billy Bancroft
Billy Bancroft was a Welsh international fullback who played club rugby for Swansea and a county cricketer for Glamorgan, becoming their first professional player in 1895....
, giving Wales the victory and Ireland the wooden spoon. From that match, Nicholl became a regular fixture in the Welsh pack. Of his 15 caps for Wales he only missed one international match over a 16 game run, taking in five Home Nations Championships
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
. Most notably, Nicholls was part of the 1893 team which saw Wales not only win the Championship, but lift the Triple Crown for the first time in the country's history. The next year's tournament
1894 Home Nations Championship
The 1894 Home Nations Championship was the twelfth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 6 January and 17 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.-Table:-Results:...
saw Nicholl play the first two matches against England and Scotland, but then miss the final game away to Ireland, his place taken by Neath's
Neath RFC
Neath Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. The club's home ground is The Gnoll, Neath. The first team is known as the Welsh All Blacks because of the team colours: black with only a white cross pattée as an emblem...
Fred Hutchinson
Fred Hutchinson (rugby player)
Frederick Osborne Hutchinson was a Welsh international rugby union back row who played club rugby for Maesteg, Bridgend and Neath and international rugby for Wales.-Rugby career:...
. Nicholl played in all three matches of the 1895 Championship
1895 Home Nations Championship
The 1895 Home Nations Championship was the thirteenth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 5 January and 16 March...
, but 1896 saw a shift in the selection tactics employed by the Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
. After a humiliating defeat by England in the opening game of the 1896 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:...
the selectors decided to discard many of the forward players who had served Wales over the past four seasons, including Triple Crown winners like Wallace Watts
Wallace Watts
| ru_amclubcaps =| ru_amclubpoints =| ru_amupdate =| ru_nationalteam = Wales| ru_nationalyears = 1892–1896| ru_nationalcaps = 12| ru_nationalpoints = | ru_ntupdate =| ru_coachclubs =| ru_coachyears =| ru_coachupdate =| other =| occupation =...
and Arthur Boucher
Arthur Boucher
Arthur Boucher was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Newport. Boucher was an adaptable player, who although selected mainly as a forward, often played at centre. He was strong, quick for his position and passed well on the run...
, favouring a new type of player emerging from the South Wales coalfields. Dubbed the 'Rhondda forward', these players were selected from tough manual workers who could not only scrummage and jump, but could take and respond to a more physical game. Although a product of the university system, Nicholl was well known for his hard style of play, and survived until the end of the season but was replaced by Llwynypia's
Llwynypia RFC
Llwynypia RFC was a rugby union club located in the Welsh village of Llwynypia in the Rhondda. The team provided several international players during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, most notably Willie Llewellyn, who was not only selected to represent Wales while playing at the club, but...
Dick Hellings
Dick Hellings
Richard 'Dick' Hellings was an English born rugby union forward who played international rugby for Wales and club rugby for Llwynypia. Hellings was noted for his strength built from years cutting coal as a Rhondda miner...
in 1897.