Ronald Cove-Smith
Encyclopedia
Dr Ronald Cove-Smith was a distinguished English physician and sportsman. He represented Old Merchant Taylors and King's College Hospital RFC
. Internationally he represented the England national rugby union team
in 29 tests (1921–1929) (seven as captain) and also captained the British Isles
in four tests (1924) as a lock. He finished on the winning side in 22 of his 29 England matches.
for Cambridge University
, winning his sporting 'Blues'. He led the 1924 British Lions tour to South Africa
, losing three of the four tests and drawing one. As captain, he led England to the 1928 Grand Slam and he was inducted onto the World Rugby Museum Wall of Fame
in 2001.
He also led a distinguished medical career and served as a vice-president of the British Medical Association
.
King's College Hospital RFC
Kings College Hospital RFC is an open rugby union club founded in the 19th century as a football club whose representatives were made up of medics from King's College Hospital. In its original form it was one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union, and produced a number of...
. Internationally he represented the England national rugby union team
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...
in 29 tests (1921–1929) (seven as captain) and also captained the British Isles
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
in four tests (1924) as a lock. He finished on the winning side in 22 of his 29 England matches.
Rugby career
Cove-Smith was a talented schoolboy player at Merchant Taylors School, and carried that talent through to university, playing in three Varsity MatchesThe Varsity Match
The Varsity Match is an annual rugby union fixture played between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England. By tradition, the match is held on the second Tuesday of December. In 2005, however, this changed, and the match was on Tuesday 6 December. In 2007, it was held on a Thursday for...
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...
, winning his sporting 'Blues'. He led the 1924 British Lions tour to South Africa
1924 British Lions tour to South Africa
The 1924 British Isles tour to South Africa was the tenth tour by a British Isles team and the fifth to South Africa. The tour is retrospectively classed as one of the British Lions tours, as the Lions naming convention was not adopted until 1950...
, losing three of the four tests and drawing one. As captain, he led England to the 1928 Grand Slam and he was inducted onto the World Rugby Museum Wall of Fame
World Rugby Museum Wall of Fame
The World Rugby Museum Wall of Fame , not to be confused with the IRB Hall of Fame, was opened at the World Rugby Museum by Martin Johnson on 3rd June 2005 as a celebration of the best players from all over the world that have played at Twickenham Stadium...
in 2001.
He also led a distinguished medical career and served as a vice-president of the British Medical Association
British Medical Association
The British Medical Association is the professional association and registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The association’s headquarters are located in BMA House,...
.