This is a list of international rugby union players who died serving in armed forces during the First World War. Most of these came from the British Commonwealth, but a number of French international rugby players were also killed. A number of major teams, whose nations were belligerents in World War I such as , , , , and had not made their international debuts at this point in time,The debuts of these teams were & (1932); (1929); & (1924); (1924) – Western Samoa was technically a German colony until the Treaty of Versailles, but was seized by New Zealand in 1914. and the team had only been in existence for around two years prior to the war. Also, none of the Central Powers had true national rugby squads at this point although there had been rugby clubs in Germany since the late 19th century,Bath, Richard (ed.) The Complete Book of Rugby (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997 ) p67; the debut of was in 1927, and those of the successors of the Central Powers , , and decades after World War II and the German Rugby Federation is the oldest national rugby union in continental Europe. Deutscher Rugby-Verband – Official Site However, Germany did put forward a team for rugby union at the 1900 Summer Olympics (although not the 1908 tournament, which involved only two sides) – Olympic rugby was not seen as particularly prestigious – and it is not known if any of that team were war casualties.

The war took an extremely heavy toll upon rugby at all levels, and this list includes some major figures, such as Dave Gallaher, who led a major All Blacks tour to the British Isles in 1905; David Bedell-Sivright, who is sometimes considered one of the greatest Scottish players of all time;An entire team wiped out by the Great War (The Scotsman), retrieved 8 December 2009 and Ronnie Poulton-Palmer who is similarly honoured by the English;Starmer-Smith, p40 and the Frenchman Jean Bouin, better known as a middle-distance runner at the 1908 Olympics as well as the 1912 Games.

The first rugby international to die in World War I was France and Stade Toulousain scrum-half Alfred Mayssonnié on 6 September 1914.

List by country Australia

Although many rugby players were killed during the war, a large number were also injured or crippled, leading to their departure from the game. For example, the and British Isles player Tom Richards had his back and shoulders damaged by a bomb blast and suffered respiratory problems the rest of his life, from gas attacks he had experienced on the Western Front, leading to his death from TB in 1935.

Harold Wesley George, died on 10 May 1915, Aged 28. Bryan Desmond Hughes MC, died on 6 August 1918, Aged 32 Hubert A Jones, died on 9 July 1918, Aged 28. Edward Larkin, died on 25 April 1915, Aged 34 George Pugh, died on 5 September 1916, Aged 26 Blair Swannell, killed in action on 25 April 1915, Aged 39 William Tasker, died on 9 August 1918, Aged 26. Fred Thompson, killed in action on 29 May 1915, Aged 25. Jack Verge, died on 8 September 1915, Aged 35. Clarrie Wallach MC, died on 22 April 1918, Aged 28.

England

One of the most poignant stories is of Ronnie Poulton-Palmer, who had played against the South African tourists of 1912–13 only a few years before:

"Those who watched [Ronnie Poulton] play were certain that he was the greatest three-quarter ever to play the game and they held to that opinion all their lives..."

"Poulton later inherited a fortune on condition that he changed his name to Poulton-Palmer; he did not live to enjoy it, being killed by a sniper's bullet in the Great War. His last words before he died were: 'I shall never play at Twickenham again.'"

England had over twenty six players killed in the conflict. This was the second highest number of casualties, after . However, many of the Scotland players were "Anglos", i.e. based, born or playing in the England's domestic leagues for teams such as London Scottish FC or universities, so their loss affected English rugby too.

Henry Brougham is sometimes listed, because he died of war wounds. However, since he died in 1923, after the war had ended, he is also often omitted.

Harry Alexander; died on 17 October 1915, aged 35Starmer-Smith, p42 Henry Berry; died on 9 May 1915, aged 32. Arthur James Dingle; died on 22 August 1915, aged 23 George Eric Burroughs Dobbs, died on 17 June 1917, aged 32. Leonard Haigh, died on 6 August 1916, aged 29. Reginald Harry Myburgh "Reggie" Hands, died on 20 April 1918, aged 29 Hands was a South African who played cricket for South Africa and rugby for England. Arthur Leyland Harrison VC; died on 23 April 1918, aged 32 Harold Augustus Hodges; died on 24 March 1918, aged 32 Rupert Edward Inglis; died on 18 September 1916, aged 53 Percy Dale Kendall; died on 21 January 1915, aged 34 John Abbott King; died on 9 August 1916, aged 32 Ronald Owen Lagden; died on 3 March 1915, aged 26 Douglas Lambert; died on 13 October 1915, aged 32 Alfred Frederick Maynard; died on 13 November 1916, aged 22 Edgar Roberts Mobbs, ("Mobbsy") died on 29 July 1917, aged 37 William Moore Bell Nanson; died on 4 June 1915, aged 34 Francis Eckley Oakeley; died on 25 November 1914, aged 23 Robert Pillman; died on 9 July 1916, aged 23 Ronald William Poulton-Palmer, ("Ronnie Poulton") died on 5 May 1915, aged 25 John Edward Raphael, died on 11 June 1917, aged 35 Reginald Oscar "Reggie" Schwarz MC, died on 18 November 1918, aged 43 Lancelot Andrew Noel Slocock; died on 9 August 1918, aged 29 Francis Nathaniel Tarr; died on 18 July 1915, aged 27 Alexander Findlater Todd, died on 21 April 1915, aged 41 James Henry Digby Watson; died on 15 October 1914, aged 24 Charles Edward Wilson; died 17 September 1914, aged 43 Arthur James Wilson, died on 1 July 1917, aged 29

France France is different from all the other nations mentioned on this list for two reasons – firstly, it was not part of the British Commonwealth nor English speaking, and secondly, unlike the other nations, it actually had a military front in its border territory.

Maurice Boyau particularly distinguished himself as a balloon buster and military flying ace, with 35 victories under his belt. He spent much of his flying career with Escadrille 77, known as "Les Sportifs" for the great number of athletes in its ranks. He had been captain of the French team before the war.

Stade Bordelais of Bordeaux was badly affected, losing players such as Boyau and Giacardy.

Marie Jean-Baptiste Joseph Anduran ("Joé Anduran"); died on 2 October 1914, Aged 32 René Emile Henri Boudreaux; died on 8 September 1915, Aged 34. Maurice Jean-Paul Boyau (Médaille militaire, Legion of Honour); died on 16 September 1918, Aged 30 Marcel Henry Burgun; died on 2 September 1916, Aged 26. Jean-Jacques Conilh de Beyssac; died on 13 June 1918, Aged 28. Paul Decamps; died on 27 June 1915, Aged 31. Julien Dufau; died in December 1916, Aged 28. Paul Dupré; died on 15 May 1915, Aged 27. Albert Eutrope; died on 26 May 1915, Aged 27. Marc Giacardy; died on 20 August 1917, Aged 26 Pierre Guillemin; died on 9 October 1915, Aged 27 Maurice Hedembaigt; died on 5 August 1918, Aged 37. Emmanuel Iguinitz; died on 20 September 1914, Aged 24 Daniel Ihingoué; died on 16 April 1917, Aged 28 Henri Isaac; died on 20 June 1917 Aged 34 Henri André Lacassagne; died on 11 November 1916, Aged 30 Gaston Lane; died on 23 September 1914, Aged 31 Jean Larribau; died on 31 December 1916, Aged 27 Marcel Legrain; died on 27 June 1915, Aged 21. Alfred Mayssonnié ("Maysso"); died on 6 September 1914, aged 30 François Poeydebasque; died on 21 December 1914, Aged 23 Albert Chateau; died from wounds on 15 July 1924, aged 31

German Empire

A German team competed at the 1900 Olympic tournament, represented by players from the SC 1880 Frankfurt club. It is not known if any of those 15 players died in World War I.

British Isles

British Isles team Pre-World War I, it was not uncommon for members of the British Isles team (later known as the British & Irish Lions) to be uncapped for their nation of origin.

Charlie Adamson (English), died on 17 September 1918, Aged 43. Sidney Nelson Crowther (English), died on 18 October 1914, Aged 39 Noel Forbes Humphreys MC (Welsh), died 27 March 1918, Aged 27 Ron Rogers (English), capped for British Isles in 1904, died Gallipoli 1915, aged 32. Most British Isles players had been capped for their country, and can be found listed more fully under their respective countries. Capped players include the following.

: Blair Swannell : John Raphael, Alexander Todd : Robertson Smyth : David Bedell-Sivright, Eric Milroy : Phil Waller

Olympians At least one competitor for the Great Britain Olympic team which competed at rugby union at the 1908 Summer Olympics, and gained silver died – Arthur Wilson, died 1 July 1917 (see also England)

Scotland and Ireland did not enters teams up for either the 1900 or 1908 Olympic rugby events; most of the "Great Britain" team were from England, particularly Cornwall.

Ireland Ireland, unlike Great Britain and much of the British Empire did not have conscription during the war, although there was a disastrous attempt in 1918 to impose it. See also Ireland and World War I.

Portrait Player Caps Military service Jasper Brett 1914 1 4 February 1917 (21)Dalkey, Ireland Served as second lieutenant in the 7th Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers at the Battle of Gallipoli and the Somme. Suffered from shell shock and committed suicide. Robert Burgess 1912 1 9 December 1915 (25)Armentières, France Burgess was commissioned into the Royal Army Service Corps and served with the Royal Engineers. He was killed when he was hit by a shell while cycling down the rue de Dunkerque in Armentières. Ernest Deane 1909 1 Loos-en-Gohelle, France After graduating from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Deane joined the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1911, and was stationed in India. In WWI he served as medical officer in the Leicestershire Regiment on the Western Front. Having already been awarded the Military Cross for bravery, at the Battle of Loos, Deane went to rescue men who had been caught up in German barbed wire, and was killed instantly by a shot to the head. Billy Edwards 1912 2 29 December 1917 (30) near Deir Ibzi, Palestine Fought with Royal Irish Fusiliers at Ginchy. Transferred to Royal Dublin Fusiliers and served in Sinai and Palestine Campaign: Third Battle of Gaza, Battle of Jerusalem. Died near Deir Ibzi. Reburied at Jerusalem British war cemetery in 1918. Basil Maclear 1905–190711 24 May 1915 (34) Western Front (WWI) Captain with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers; killed during the Second Battle of Ypres Maclear, Basil, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Retrieved 30 December 2008 1914 3 Suvla Bay, Gallipoli McNamara served in the Royal Engineers, and died from gas in the trenches in Suvla Bay, Gallipoli.Robertson Smyth1903–19043+35 April 1916 (36) London Smyth joined the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1904, and served in India until the outbreak of WWI. He served on the Western Front until he was invalided through exposure to gas, and died a few months later. Albert Stewart 1913–14 2 4 October 1917 (28) near Ypres, Belgium Member of the Royal Irish Rifles, then transferred to the Machine Gun Corps. Fought in the Battle of the Somme. Died at the Battle of Broodseinde (part of Third Ypres). Alfred Taylor 1910–12 4 31 July 1917 (29) near Ypres, Belgium Served in Royal Army Medical Corps; died at Third Battle of Ypres.

New Zealand Thirteen former New Zealand representativesknown as All Blackslost their lives in the First World War, with three (possibly four) of them dying in the Battle of Messines. James Alexander Steenson Baird ("Jim Baird"), died on 7 June 1917 in France (probably at Messines), aged 23 Robert Stanley Black ("Bobby Black"), died on 21 September 1916 at the Somme, aged 23 Henry Dewar ("Norkey Dewar"), died on 9 August 1915 at Gallipoli, aged 33