Theo Harding

Theo Harding
Full name Charles Theodore Harding[1]
Place of birth Chorlton, Lancashire
Place of death Newport, Wales
School Monmouth School
Notable relative(s) George Frederick Harding, brother
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Forward
Amateur clubs
Years Club / team
1879-1890 Newport RFC
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
1888-1889 Wales[2] 3 (0)

Charles Theodore 'Theo' Harding (1860 13 July 1919) was an English-born international rugby union player who played club rugby for Newport and international rugby for Wales. Harding was an all-round sportsman and also captained Newport Hockey Club in their very first season.[3]

Rugby career

Harding was one of the first Newport players and was given the captaincy of the club in the 1887/88 and the 1888/89 season. During the 1888 Harding twice faced the first overseas touring team the New Zealand Māoris. The first occasion was also Harding's first cap for Wales, when under the captaincy of Frank Hill, the Welsh team beat the tourists five points to nil. Four days later, on 26 December, Harding led his Newport team against the Māori's, but without star player and Welsh legend Arthur Gould, Newport's supporters were not optimistic of success.[4] They were proven right when the Māoris won three tries to nil.

In 1889, Harding was selected to represent Wales twice as part of the Home Nations Championship. Wales lost both games of the tournament against Scotland and Ireland, and Harding was not chosen to represent his country again.

International matches played

Wales (rugby union)[5]

Bibliography

References

  1. Newport RFC player profile
  2. Rugby Union player profiles
  3. Newport Hockey Club Men's hockey captains
  4. Billot (1972), pg 20.
  5. Smith (1980), pg 466.
Rugby Union Captain
Preceded by
Bob Gould
Newport RFC Captain
1887-1889
Succeeded by
Tom Graham