Mike Titcomb
Encyclopedia
Michael Herbert Titcomb was a rugby union
referee. He became the youngest referee to officiate an international game when Wales
faced Scotland
in 1966.
Born Bristol
, England
Titcomb played rugby for both his school and his university, Bristol University. He only took up refereeing after an eye injury
ended his playing career. He officiated his first match in Moseley
as the substitute referee when the one originally scheduled failed to show. The RFU were impressed by his performance and Titcomb quickly made it to the international ranks.
He officiated five England Trails, three Barbarian fixtures and 26 county matches, including three finals. Several of the matches he refereed are well remembered including when Oxford University beat South Africa
6-3. The most famous moment of his career came in 1968 when he wrongly awarded a drop goal to Gareth Edwards
of Wales. With the call it brought the score of the Wales-Ireland
international to 6-6. The Irish fans acted with anger to Titcomb's call pelting him with bottles and other missiles as he left the pitch at the end of the game. Titcomb later apologized for his call.
Titcomb died of kidney failure on 2 May 2008.
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...
referee. He became the youngest referee to officiate an international game when Wales
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...
faced Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1966.
Born Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Titcomb played rugby for both his school and his university, Bristol University. He only took up refereeing after an eye injury
Eye injury
Physical or chemical injuries of the eye can be a serious threat to vision if not treated appropriately and in a timely fashion. The most obvious presentation of ocular injuries is redness and pain of the affected eyes. This is not, however, universally true, as tiny metallic projectiles may cause...
ended his playing career. He officiated his first match in Moseley
Moseley
Moseley is a suburb of Birmingham, England, two miles south of the city centre. The area is a popular cosmopolitan residential location and leisure destination, with a number of bars and restaurants...
as the substitute referee when the one originally scheduled failed to show. The RFU were impressed by his performance and Titcomb quickly made it to the international ranks.
He officiated five England Trails, three Barbarian fixtures and 26 county matches, including three finals. Several of the matches he refereed are well remembered including when Oxford University beat South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
6-3. The most famous moment of his career came in 1968 when he wrongly awarded a drop goal to Gareth Edwards
Gareth Edwards
Gareth Owen Edwards CBE is a former Welsh rugby union footballer who played scrum-half and has been described by the BBC as "arguably the greatest player ever to don a Welsh jersey"....
of Wales. With the call it brought the score of the Wales-Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
international to 6-6. The Irish fans acted with anger to Titcomb's call pelting him with bottles and other missiles as he left the pitch at the end of the game. Titcomb later apologized for his call.
Titcomb died of kidney failure on 2 May 2008.