Bob Weighill
Full name | Robert Harold George Weighill | ||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 9 September 1920 | ||
Place of birth | Kings Norton | ||
Date of death | 27 October 2000 | ||
Place of death | Halton (aged 80 years 48 days) | ||
School | Wirral Grammar School for Boys | ||
Rugby union career | |||
Playing career | |||
Position | No. 8 | ||
Professional / senior clubs | |||
Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
Birkenhead Park Waterloo R.F.C. Harlequins Leicester Representative: RAF Combined Services Notts, Lincs and Derbys county |
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National team(s) | |||
Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
1947-1948 | England | 4 | Pts:0 |
Bob Weighill, CBE DFC (1920–2000) was a rugby union international who represented England from 1947 to 1948.[1] He also captained his country[1] and later became Secretary of the Rugby Football Union. Weighill served in the Royal Air Force and rose to the rank of Air Commodore.[2]
Life
Bob Weighill was born on 9 September 1920 in Kings Norton.[1] He was educated at Wirral Grammar School for Boys and was the freestyle swimming champion of Cheshire in 1935-36. Weighill served with Cheshire Constabulary between 1937 and 1941 and joined the RAF as a pilot. In 1944 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and he eventually rose to the rank of Air Commodore and commanded the RAF No. 1 School of Technical Training at RAF Halton. He was honoured as a Commander of the British Empire in 1970.[2]
Rugby union career
Weighill played club rugby for Birkenhead Park, Waterloo R.F.C., Harlequins and Leicester while at representative level he captained the RAF rugby team from 1945 to 1952 and captained the Combined Services side and the Notts, Lincs and Derbys county team.[2] He made his international debut on 15 Mar 1947 at Twickenham in the England vs Scotland match.[1] Of the 4 matches he played for his national side he was on the winning side on 2 occasions.[1] He played his final match for England on 29 Mar 1948 at Colombes in the France vs England match,[1] in which he captained the national team.[2]
As a rugby union administrator, Weighill was an England selector from 1959 and 1964 and Secretary of the RFU between 1974 and 1986. From 1986 to 1995 he was the Honorary Secretary of the Five Nations and Home Unions Committee.[2]
References
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