Eric Bole (30 March 1925 – 15 September 1988) was an English international rugby union player.[1]

Eric Bole
Born(1925-03-30)30 March 1925
Liverpool, England
Died15 September 1988(1988-09-15) (aged 63)
SchoolWycliffe College, Gloucestershire
UniversityUniversity of Cambridge
OccupationTeacher
Rugby union career
Position Forward
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
England

Early years

edit

Bole was born in Liverpool and attended Wycliffe College in Gloucestershire during his youth.[2]

Rugby career

edit

A forward, Bole gained England representative honours when international rugby returned after World War II, featuring in all six of his country's (then) uncapped 1945–46 Victory International fixtures. These have since been upgraded to full internationals.[3] He played rugby during this period for Cambridge University and achieved the rare feat of twice captaining the XV to wins over the University of Oxford in The Varsity Matches of 1945 and 1947.[4] Completing a master's degree in 1948, Bole subsequently took up a teaching position at Liverpool College and played rugby for local side Waterloo. He was also a Lancashire representative player and contributed the winning try in the 1947–48 County Championship final against Eastern Counties, running over fifty yards to score.[5]

Later life

edit

Bole spent the 1950s and 1960s teaching at The Principia, a Christian school in the United States city of St. Louis, which included a period as headmaster.[6] He remained involved in rugby while in St. Louis by refereeing local matches.[2]

References

edit
  1. "Rugby Players Ordered Rest". Daily News (London). 16 February 1946.
  2. 1 2 "Who is Eric Bole?". World Rugby Museum. 13 May 2019.
  3. Richardson, Charles (1 April 2026). "English rugby honours 47 uncapped players after historical oversight". The Daily Telegraph.
  4. "Eric Bole For U.S." Evening News (London). 1 March 1951.
  5. "Bole's Good-bye". Evening News (London). 4 October 1948.
  6. "The Principia Selects Eric Bole". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. 22 December 1962. p. 4.