William Cross
Encyclopedia
William Cross was a Scottish rugby
internationalist. He is notable for scoring the first conversion in international rugby in 1871 in the match between and , after Angus Buchanan
scored a pushover try, and he also 's second ever try later in the match.
in 1871 in the first international match. Of the Scottish score, one of the English players wrote:
At the time, conversions and goals, not tries produced a score, so in fact Cross, not Buchanan was the first to put points on the board. In fact, this was the only score in the match.
Cross rounded off the game with a second try, ninety seconds before the final whistle, when with their forwards running riot, J.W. Arthur knocked on from a line-out and the ball looped over the English defenders, with the quick thinking Cross picking it up for Scotland's second try.
Cross played for Glasgow Academicals, and Merchistonians before that, and was one of the first international half-backs, along with J.W. Arthur and their English counterparts. He played one more international in 1872. His brother Malcolm Cross
gained nine caps.
After his international playing career was over, Cross took up a role within the Scottish Rugby Union
, and by 1877 became Scotland's second international rugby referee when he officiated an early encounter between Scotland and England. This was his only international game as a referee, but he continued promoting Scottish rugby, becoming President of the Scottish Rugby Union for the 1882-83 season.
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...
internationalist. He is notable for scoring the first conversion in international rugby in 1871 in the match between and , after Angus Buchanan
Angus Buchanan
Angus Buchanan, VC, MC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Early life:...
scored a pushover try, and he also 's second ever try later in the match.
Rugby career
Cross represented ScotlandScotland 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 1871 in the first international match. Of the Scottish score, one of the English players wrote:
- "after a maul, just outside the English goal-line the umpires ordered the ball to be put down in the scrummage five yards outside the line. It was taken was out accordingly, but, instead of putting it down, the Scottish forwards drove the entire scrummage into goal, and then then grounded the ball and claimed a try. This, though illegal according to English laws, was allowed by the umpires and the goal was kicked by Cross."
At the time, conversions and goals, not tries produced a score, so in fact Cross, not Buchanan was the first to put points on the board. In fact, this was the only score in the match.
Cross rounded off the game with a second try, ninety seconds before the final whistle, when with their forwards running riot, J.W. Arthur knocked on from a line-out and the ball looped over the English defenders, with the quick thinking Cross picking it up for Scotland's second try.
Cross played for Glasgow Academicals, and Merchistonians before that, and was one of the first international half-backs, along with J.W. Arthur and their English counterparts. He played one more international in 1872. His brother Malcolm Cross
Malcolm Cross
Malcolm Cross was a Scottish rugby union player.He was capped nine times for between 1875-80. He also played for Merchistonians.He was the brother of William Cross who was also capped for Scotland, and who scored the first ever conversion in international rugby.-References:* Bath, Richard The...
gained nine caps.
After his international playing career was over, Cross took up a role within the Scottish Rugby Union
Scottish Rugby Union
The Scottish Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. It is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873, as the Scottish Football Union.-History:...
, and by 1877 became Scotland's second international rugby referee when he officiated an early encounter between Scotland and England. This was his only international game as a referee, but he continued promoting Scottish rugby, becoming President of the Scottish Rugby Union for the 1882-83 season.