Theo Harding

Charles Theodore 'Theo' Harding (26 May 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]

Theo Harding
Birth nameCharles Theodore Harding[1]
Place of birthRusholme, Lancashire, England
Place of deathNewport, Monmouthshire, Wales
SchoolMonmouth School
Notable relative(s)George Frederick Harding, brother
SpouseMay Lloyd
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1879-1890 Newport RFC ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1888-1889 Wales[2] 3 (0)

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
  • Billot, John (1972). All Blacks in Wales. Ferndale, Glamorgan: Ron Jones Publications.
  • Godwin, Terry (1984). The International Rugby Championship 1883-1983. Grafton Street, London: Willow Books. ISBN 0-00-218060-X.
  • Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.

References
  1. Newport RFC player profile Archived 17 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Rugby Union player profiles
  3. Newport Hockey Club Archived 26 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine 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
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