Herbert Laxon (16 March 1881 – 14 January 1965) was an
English
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rugby union
Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...
halfback who played club rugby for
Cambridge University
, mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts.
Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge.
, established =
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winning sporting Blues in 1903 and 1904. Although never capped internationally for England, in 1908 Laxon was selected to join
Arthur Harding
Arthur Flowers Harding (8 August 1878 – 15 May 1947) was an English-born international rugby union player who played for and captained the Wales national team. Often called 'Boxer' Harding, he was a member of the Wales team for the famous '' ...
's
Anglo-Welsh
Welsh writing in English (Welsh language, Welsh: ''Llenyddiaeth Gymreig yn Saesneg''), (previously Anglo-Welsh literature) is a term used to describe works written in the English language by Welsh people, Welsh writers.
The term ‘Anglo-Welsh ...
tour of
New Zealand and Australia playing in one Test match against New Zealand.
Personal history
Laxon was born in
Coventry
Coventry ( or ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. It is on the River Sherbourne. Coventry has been a large settlement for centuries, although it was not founded and given its ...
, England in 1881 to Arthur Samuel Laxon and his wife Hannah (née Barton). He was christened at
Holy Trinity Church, Coventry
Holy Trinity Church, Coventry, is a parish church of the Church of England in Coventry City Centre, West Midlands, England.
Above the chancel arch is an impressive Doom wall-painting.
History
The church dates from the 12th century and is t ...
in May two months after his birth. He was one of five siblings, Winifred and Ruby his younger sisters, Frank his younger brother and Ernest an elder brother. Laxon attended
King Henry VIII School, Coventry
King Henry VIII School is a coeducational independent day school located in Coventry, England, comprising a senior school (ages 11–18) and associated preparatory school (ages 3–11). The senior school has approximately 800 pupils (120 in eac ...
and he later matriculated to Cambridge University. He died in Northampton in 1965 at the age of 83.
Rugby career
Laxon represented Cambridge University in the 1903 Varsity Match, winning his first
sporting Blue. It was reported as a 'rousing match', which saw Oxford win narrowly. Despite being on the losing team, Laxon scored one three tries for Cambridge. The next year he was again part of the Cambridge team to face Oxford. Laxon had an excellent game, and along with his fellow halfback H. Mainprice, allowed their team's back row to attack, resulting in a Cambridge victory.
Despite the fact that Laxon had no international experience, in 1907 he was approached to join an Anglo-Welsh team on a
tour of Australia and New Zealand. A seven-month venture, on a strictly amateur basis, would have required Laxon be financially secure.
The tour was made of 26 matches with three against the
New Zealand national team
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and the remaining 23 against regional opposition. Laxon played in the first game of the tour, a win over
Wairarapa
The Wairarapa (; ), a geographical region of New Zealand, lies in the south-eastern corner of the North Island, east of metropolitan Wellington and south-west of the Hawke's Bay Region. It is lightly populated, having several rural service ...
. He was back in the team the very next match when the British team faced Wellington, and secured his one and only international cap when he was selected for the first Test match against New Zealand on 6 June. Partnered with
James Davey at half back, the first Test was a disaster with New Zealand winning 32-5, running in seven tries. Laxon played in a further six games of the tour, but neither he nor Davey were selected for the remaining two Tests.
International games played
British Isles
* 1908
Bibliography
*
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Laxon, Herbert
1881 births
1965 deaths
English rugby union players
British & Irish Lions rugby union players from England
Cambridge University R.U.F.C. players
Rugby union players from Coventry
People educated at King Henry VIII School, Coventry