William Bromet
Encyclopedia
William Ernest Bromet was an English
rugby union
forward who played club rugby for Oxford
and Tadcaster and county rugby for Yorkshire. Bromet and was a member of the first official British Isles
tour in 1891 and represented England
on twelve occasions between 1891 and 1896. Bromet was a part of the 1892 Triple Crown
winning team for England.
, Yorkshire in 1868 to John Addinell Bromet, a solicitor, and Elizabeth Smith. Bromet was the youngest of seven children and was educated first at Richmond Grammar School, before matriculating to Wadham College, Oxford
. After leaving University he followed his father's profession and worked as an articled clerk within a solicitor's office.
, during the 1889/90 season, at which point he was already a senior. The game was played at the Queen's Club
, with Oxford captained by R.O.B. Lane; the team included several players who would go one to win international caps and included Paul Robert Clauss
, who would a year later join Bromet on the British Isles tour of South Africa. Oxford won the game by a goal and a try to nil, mainly due to the strong play of Bromet and the rest of the team's forwards.
In 1891, now playing for Tadcaster Rugby Club, Bromet was selected to represent England. Bromet's first encounter was against Wales
, the opening game of the 1891 Home Nations Championship
. The English team saw nine new caps brought into the squad as the English selectors, bringing in many Northern-style forwards, one of whom was Bromet. England won 7-3, and Bromet was reselected for the next match of the series, this time to face Ireland. England won convincingly, with good work by Bromet and Donald Jowett
, setting up Roger Parker Wilson's second try
in a 9-0 victory.
Although Bromet missed the final England game of the 1891 Championship, at the end of the season, he was approached to join the first RFU sanctioned overseas tour with the British Isles team. The 1891 British Isles tour
was played in South Africa and took in 20 matches against club and invitational teams, and included three Test games against the South African national team. Bromet was joined on the tour by his elder brother Edward Bromet
; like Bromet, Edward was a former sporting 'Blue', though he won his colours as a Cambridge
player. Bromet played in 19 of the tour matches, including all three Test games. In the Second and Third Tests, he played alongside his brother Edward, the only time they would play international rugby together.
On his return from South Africa, Bromet rejoined Tadcaster and was again part of the England squad for the 1892 Championship
. Bromet played in all three international during this tournament, and after victories over Wales and Ireland, was chosen to face Scotland
in the decider for not only the Championship but also the Triple Crown. The game was a disappointing match, with reports of biased refereeing towards the English, and several incidents of fighting between the forward players. The match was decided by a single goal, with the try scored by Bromet; his first and only international points, which also gave England the Triple Crown.
The 1891/92 season also saw Bromet joint the Barbarian Football Club
. The invitational club approached several key players of the era to join them in tour matches around Britain, and Bromet's brother, Edward joined the Barbarians in the same season. 1892 was also the season in which Bromet experienced his most successful time at county level, when he captained the Yorkshire team to County Champions.
Bromet played in three more Championship seasons, though none as successful as 1892. During the 1892/93 season Bromet switched clubs from Tadcaster, to the more fashionable Richmond F.C.
and then played in all three matches of the 1893 Championship
which saw England win the encounter away to Ireland, but losing against both Wales and Scotland. He missed the entire 1894 tournament, but was back in the England team for the 1895 Championship
. Despite winning their opening two matches over Wales and Ireland, England again failed to beat Scotland in the final game of the series, allowing the Scottish to lift the Triple Crown. This was the second time in Bromet's career that he had seen Scotland take the Championship in the final encounter. The downfall of English rugby during this period is often placed at the split between the Northern clubs which decided to pay their players for 'Broken time', and thus started the divide which would create the professional rugby league
. Despite once requesting recovery of expenses while playing for Yorkshire, Bromet was a staunch believer in the amateur game. In 1894, Bromet was one of eleven influential rugby players, which included Barbarian founder William Percy Carpmael
, to put his name to a letter calling on Northern clubs opposed to the divide to attend an anti-professional meeting.
His last international cap game in 1896, when he was chosen for the home encounter with Ireland. The game ended in a 4-10 victory for the Irish, and Bromet never represented his country again. Despite his failing international career, Bromet was an inspirational captain at club level, and is credited as reviving the fortunes of Richmond during 1896.
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...
forward who played club rugby for Oxford
Oxford University RFC
The Oxford University Rugby Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Oxford. The club contests The Varsity Match every year against Cambridge University at Twickenham.-History:...
and Tadcaster and county rugby for Yorkshire. Bromet and was a member of the first official 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...
tour in 1891 and represented 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...
on twelve occasions between 1891 and 1896. Bromet was a part of the 1892 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 for England.
Personal history
Bromet was born in TadcasterTadcaster
Tadcaster is a market town and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. Lying on the Great North Road approximately east of Leeds and west of York. It is the last town on the River Wharfe before it joins the River Ouse about downstream...
, Yorkshire in 1868 to John Addinell Bromet, a solicitor, and Elizabeth Smith. Bromet was the youngest of seven children and was educated first at Richmond Grammar School, before matriculating to Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
. After leaving University he followed his father's profession and worked as an articled clerk within a solicitor's office.
Rugby career
Bromet first came to note as a rugby player when he represented Oxford University while studying at Wadham College. He played in only one Varsity MatchThe 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...
, during the 1889/90 season, at which point he was already a senior. The game was played at the Queen's Club
Queen's Club
The Queen's Club is a private sporting club in West Kensington, London, England. Founded in 1886, the Queen's Club was the world's first multipurpose sports complex and named after Queen Victoria, its first patron...
, with Oxford captained by R.O.B. Lane; the team included several players who would go one to win international caps and included Paul Robert Clauss
Paul Robert Clauss
Paul Robert Clauss was a German-born rugby union three-quarter who played club rugby for Oxford and Birkenhead Park. Clauss was a member of the first official British Isles tour in 1891 and also represented Scotland on six occasions...
, who would a year later join Bromet on the British Isles tour of South Africa. Oxford won the game by a goal and a try to nil, mainly due to the strong play of Bromet and the rest of the team's forwards.
In 1891, now playing for Tadcaster Rugby Club, Bromet was selected to represent England. Bromet's first encounter was against 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...
, the opening game of the 1891 Home Nations Championship
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...
. The English team saw nine new caps brought into the squad as the English selectors, bringing in many Northern-style forwards, one of whom was Bromet. England won 7-3, and Bromet was reselected for the next match of the series, this time to face Ireland. England won convincingly, with good work by Bromet and Donald Jowett
Donald Jowett
Donald "Don" Jowett was a rugby union footballer of the 1880s and '90s who at representative level played for England, and at club level for Heckmondwike, playing in the Forwards, e.g. Front row, Lock, or Back row...
, setting up Roger Parker Wilson's second try
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
in a 9-0 victory.
Although Bromet missed the final England game of the 1891 Championship, at the end of the season, he was approached to join the first RFU sanctioned overseas tour with the British Isles team. The 1891 British Isles tour
1891 British Lions tour to South Africa
The 1891 British Isles tour to South Africa was the first British Isles rugby union tour of South Africa and only the second overseas tour conducted by a joint British team. Between 9 July and 7 September, the team played 20 games, including three tests against the South Africa national rugby union...
was played in South Africa and took in 20 matches against club and invitational teams, and included three Test games against the South African national team. Bromet was joined on the tour by his elder brother Edward Bromet
Edward Bromet
Edward Bromet was an English rugby union forward who was a member of the first official British Isles team to tour abroad...
; like Bromet, Edward was a former sporting 'Blue', though he won his colours as a Cambridge
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...
player. Bromet played in 19 of the tour matches, including all three Test games. In the Second and Third Tests, he played alongside his brother Edward, the only time they would play international rugby together.
On his return from South Africa, Bromet rejoined Tadcaster and was again part of the England squad for the 1892 Championship
1892 Home Nations Championship
The 1892 Home Nations Championship was the tenth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 2 January and 5 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales....
. Bromet played in all three international during this tournament, and after victories over Wales and Ireland, was chosen to face Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
in the decider for not only the Championship but also the Triple Crown. The game was a disappointing match, with reports of biased refereeing towards the English, and several incidents of fighting between the forward players. The match was decided by a single goal, with the try scored by Bromet; his first and only international points, which also gave England the Triple Crown.
The 1891/92 season also saw Bromet joint the Barbarian Football Club
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...
. The invitational club approached several key players of the era to join them in tour matches around Britain, and Bromet's brother, Edward joined the Barbarians in the same season. 1892 was also the season in which Bromet experienced his most successful time at county level, when he captained the Yorkshire team to County Champions.
Bromet played in three more Championship seasons, though none as successful as 1892. During the 1892/93 season Bromet switched clubs from Tadcaster, to the more fashionable Richmond F.C.
Richmond F.C.
Richmond Football Club is a rugby union club from Richmond, London. It is a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, and is one of the oldest football clubs...
and then played in all three matches of the 1893 Championship
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...
which saw England win the encounter away to Ireland, but losing against both Wales and Scotland. He missed the entire 1894 tournament, but was back in the England team for 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...
. Despite winning their opening two matches over Wales and Ireland, England again failed to beat Scotland in the final game of the series, allowing the Scottish to lift the Triple Crown. This was the second time in Bromet's career that he had seen Scotland take the Championship in the final encounter. The downfall of English rugby during this period is often placed at the split between the Northern clubs which decided to pay their players for 'Broken time', and thus started the divide which would create the professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
. Despite once requesting recovery of expenses while playing for Yorkshire, Bromet was a staunch believer in the amateur game. In 1894, Bromet was one of eleven influential rugby players, which included Barbarian founder William Percy Carpmael
William Percy Carpmael
William Percy Carpmael was the founder and first president of the rugby union Barbarian Football Club. Carpmael was born the eldest of eight in Briscobel, Stretham in England.-Education and early career:...
, to put his name to a letter calling on Northern clubs opposed to the divide to attend an anti-professional meeting.
His last international cap game in 1896, when he was chosen for the home encounter with Ireland. The game ended in a 4-10 victory for the Irish, and Bromet never represented his country again. Despite his failing international career, Bromet was an inspirational captain at club level, and is credited as reviving the fortunes of Richmond during 1896.