Percy Down
Encyclopedia
Percy Down was an English
rugby union
player, best known as a commanding forward in the Bristol
pack in the first decade of the twentieth century. He spent the major part of his playing career at the club, and in later life became club Chairman.
at the beginning of the 1904/05 season from the Redland club
, and made his full début against Pontypridd RFC
in December 1905. Down rapidly established himself in the first team and gained himself a reputation as a tough and committed player. His performances were widely praised and meant he soon earned selection for Somerset
.
His efforts were also recognised at international level: Down was chosen as a member of the 1908 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
. In addition Down played once for England's national side
, against Australia
in 1909; the first meeting between the two nations. Although England lost 9 – 3, Down played with distinction but was never capped again.
Four days later Down, then Bristol's club captain, led a combined Bristol and Clifton R.F.C. XV against the Australian national side at Bristol's County Ground
. The tourists won 11 – 3 in one of the finest games of the tour.
In 1910, Down was rescued by fellow players George A. Gillett
and Arthur 'Bolla' Francis
, after Down had fallen into the sea, keeping him afloat until a rope was lowered from the ship upon which Down was about to return to Great Britain.
His last game for Bristol was against Devonport Albion R.F.C. in January 1910. In all Down had played 117 games for Bristol, scoring 12 tries, 36 points.
After World War II
Down was elected Bristol's Vice-Chairman for the 1945/46 season but he took over the running of the club when Chairman W.J. Houlden died in office. He served as Chairman until 1953/54 but died suddenly during the close season, shortly after being awarded life membership. A memorial fund was established in his name which provided for repairs and developments to the hall under the stand.
Down’s son-in-law, Denzil Golledge, was Bristol captain for the 1950/51 season.
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...
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...
player, best known as a commanding forward in the Bristol
Bristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby is a rugby union club based in Bristol, England. The club currently plays in the RFU Championship and competes in the British and Irish Cup. They rely in large part on the many junior rugby clubs in the region, particularly those from 'the Combination'...
pack in the first decade of the twentieth century. He spent the major part of his playing career at the club, and in later life became club Chairman.
Rugby career
Down joined BristolBristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby is a rugby union club based in Bristol, England. The club currently plays in the RFU Championship and competes in the British and Irish Cup. They rely in large part on the many junior rugby clubs in the region, particularly those from 'the Combination'...
at the beginning of the 1904/05 season from the Redland club
Redland, Bristol
Redland is an affluent suburb in Bristol, England. The suburb is situated between Clifton, Cotham, Bishopston and Westbury Park. The boundaries of the district are not precisely defined, but are generally taken to be Whiteladies Road in the west, the Severn Beach railway line in the south and...
, and made his full début against Pontypridd RFC
Pontypridd RFC
Pontypridd Rugby Football Club, known as Ponty, are a rugby union team from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, currently playing in the British and Irish Cup, Principality Premiership, and are the current SWALEC Cup champions....
in December 1905. Down rapidly established himself in the first team and gained himself a reputation as a tough and committed player. His performances were widely praised and meant he soon earned selection for Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
.
His efforts were also recognised at international level: Down was chosen as a member of the 1908 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
1908 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
The 1908 British Isles tour to New Zealand and Australia was the seventh tour by a British Isles team and the fourth to New Zealand and Australia. The tour is often referred to as the Anglo-Welsh Tour as only English and Welsh players were selected due to the Irish and Scottish Rugby Unions not...
. In addition Down played once for England's national side
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...
, against Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
in 1909; the first meeting between the two nations. Although England lost 9 – 3, Down played with distinction but was never capped again.
Four days later Down, then Bristol's club captain, led a combined Bristol and Clifton R.F.C. XV against the Australian national side at Bristol's County Ground
County Cricket Ground, Bristol
The County Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in Bristol, England. It is in the district of Ashley Down. The ground is home to the Gloucestershire County Cricket Club....
. The tourists won 11 – 3 in one of the finest games of the tour.
In 1910, Down was rescued by fellow players George A. Gillett
George A. Gillett
George Arthur Gillett was a renowned New Zealand multi-code footballer of the early 20th century and a dual-code rugby international...
and Arthur 'Bolla' Francis
Arthur Francis (rugby)
Arthur Reginald Howe 'Bolla'/'Alf' Francis was a New Zealand dual-code international rugby footballer of the 1900s, '10s and '20s, and coach of the 1930s, who at representative level played for New Zealand in rugby union and rugby league, as well as representing Australasia in rugby league and...
, after Down had fallen into the sea, keeping him afloat until a rope was lowered from the ship upon which Down was about to return to Great Britain.
His last game for Bristol was against Devonport Albion R.F.C. in January 1910. In all Down had played 117 games for Bristol, scoring 12 tries, 36 points.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Down was elected Bristol's Vice-Chairman for the 1945/46 season but he took over the running of the club when Chairman W.J. Houlden died in office. He served as Chairman until 1953/54 but died suddenly during the close season, shortly after being awarded life membership. A memorial fund was established in his name which provided for repairs and developments to the hall under the stand.
Down’s son-in-law, Denzil Golledge, was Bristol captain for the 1950/51 season.