Tom Pook (1869 – 21 February 1948) was an English-born Wales international rugby forward who played rugby union for

Newport Newport most commonly refers to: *Newport, Wales *Newport, Rhode Island, US Newport or New Port may also refer to: Places Asia *Newport City, Metro Manila, a Philippine district in Pasay Europe Ireland *Newport, County Mayo, a town on the ...

and rugby league with

Holbeck Holbeck is an inner city area of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It begins on the southern edge of Leeds city centre and mainly lies in the LS11 postcode district. The M1 and M621 motorways used to end/begin in Holbeck. Now the M621 is the o ...

(in

, Leeds). Although short for a forward player at five foot six, Pook was described as possessing clever play and was good in the scrummage.Alcock (1997)

Rugby career

Pook came to note as a rugby player as part of first class Welsh team, Newport. Pook was part of the Newport team who during 1891/92 completed the season as 'invincibles' having not lost a single match. In 1895, Pook was selected to represent Wales in the country's second game of the

1895 Home Nations Championship The 1895 Home Nations Championship was the thirteenth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 5 January and 16 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Scotland won all the ...

, against Scotland. Under the captaincy of Wales rugby legend Arthur Gould, Pook was one of three Welsh players to make their début in the match. The other's being Pontypridd's Ernie George and Llanelli's

Evan Lloyd Evan Lloyd may refer to: * Evan Lloyd (poet) (c. 1734–1776), Welsh poet *Evan Lloyd (MP) (died 1587), MP for Denbighshire *Evan Lloyd (rugby union, born 1871) (1871–1951), Welsh international rugby union wing *Evan Lloyd (rugby union, born 2000) ...

. Wales initially threatened to pull out of the game, due to the team's belief that the Raeburn Place pitch was frozen, but agreed to compete when the playing field was shortneded by 20 yards to avoid a dangerous section of the field.Godwin (1984) pg 43. Wales lost the game 5-4 and Pook did not represent Wales again. In 1898 Pook turned professional by switching to rugby league team

, making his début on 3 September.

International matches played

Wales (rugby union)Smith (1980) pg. 470 * 1895

External links

*(archived by web.archive.org
Newport RFC player profile

Bibliography

* * *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pook, Tom 1869 births 1948 deaths English people of Welsh descent English rugby league players English rugby union players Holbeck F.C. players Newport RFC players Rugby league players from Devon Rugby union players from Plymouth, Devon Wales international rugby union players Welsh rugby union players Rugby union forwards