The Rugby History Society

He was born on 23^rd March 1871 in Erdington, Birmingham , the son of Thomas, a farmer of 559 acres, and Maria.  He was educated at Trinity College , Stratford-upon-Avon and Exeter College , Oxford University . He was a rugby blue in 1893. He also played for Blackheath, Moseley, Barbarians and Midland Counties .

The England side that played Scotland on 9^th March 1895 with both Mitchell and Cattell. (L-R) Back Row: H.W. Finlinson (Blackheath), J.F. Byrne (Moseley), C. Thomas (Barnstaple), F. Mitchell (Cambridge University), R.M. Carey (Oxford University), W.B. Thomson (Blackheath), T.H. Dobson (Bradford). Seated: W.E. Tucker ( Cambridge University ), R.H. Cattell (Moseley), W.E. Bomet ( Richmond ), S.M.J. Woods (Captain) (Bridgwater/Blackheath), E.W. Taylor ( Cambridge University ), F.O. Poole ( Oxford University ). On the ground: J.H.C. Fegan (Blackheath), E.M. Baker ( Oxford University ).

The England side that played Scotland on the 9^th March 1895 was the last time England played before the formation of the Northern Union . It had already started to prepare itself with the inclusion of very few Northern player and many Oxbridge men.

Cattell won seven caps for England , becoming captain in 1900 in the only international match to be played at Kingsholm, Gloucester . This was his last match for England . He became a clergyman who was ordained in 1897. He served in World War I as a Chaplin to the Armed Forces. He changed from playing rugby to soccer in 1898, when he joined Welwyn AFC until 1903 and then Tring Town until 1906.

From 1909 to 1923 he was perpetual curate at St. Michael and All Angels, Sunnyside with St. John , Broadway, then Rector of Watlington from 1923 to 1928, and from 1928 to 1948 at Warham St. Margaret, Norwich .

He died on 19^th July 1948.

email: patrick.casey@cliftonrfchistory.co.uk

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