Arthur Harding

Infobox Rugby biography
name = Arthur Flowers Harding


caption =
birthname = Arthur Flowers Harding
nickname = Boxer
birthyear =
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placeofbirth = Market Rasen, England [ [http://www.wru.co.uk/12750_14256.php? WRU player profile] ]
deathyear =
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placeofdeath = Wanganui, New Zealand
height =
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ru_position = Forward
ru_amateuryears = 1901-1902
1902-1907
ru_amateurclubs = Cardiff RFC
London Welsh
Middlesex
ru_amclubcaps =
ru_amclubpoints =
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ru_nationalteam = flagicon|WAL Wales
flagicon|GBR Great Britain
ru_nationalyears = 1902-1908
1904 & 1908
ru_nationalcaps = 20
3
ru_nationalpoints = (3)
(0)
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other =
occupation =
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school = Christ College, Brecon [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/4406662.stm School remembers Teddy's 1905 try] BBC online, February 4 2005]
university =
url =

Arthur Flowers Harding (Aug 8, 1879-1947) was a Welsh international rugby union player who captained the Welsh team in 1908. He was a member of the winning Welsh team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks in a game considered one of the greatest in the history of rugby union. He played club rugby for Cardiff, London Welsh and Middlesex County.

Club career

As an early forward, Harding was a suprisingly nimble player with a good running and passing style along with an excellent kicking ability.Thomas (1979), pg 37.] After being chosen to represent Wales in 1902 while playing for Cardiff he moved to England to play for London Welsh in the early part of the 1902/03 season. During the 1903/04 season Harding was chosen to captain London Welsh, a position he held for three seasons.

International career

Wales

Harding made his international debut for Wales against England at Blackheath in January 1902, while still in his first season for Cardiff. When he first joined the Welsh team he played alongside George Boots from whom he learned much about improving his game.Thomas (1979), pg 37.] Harding played in all three 1902 Triple Crown games which saw Wales win the championship. After representing Wales for their fourth Triple Crown in 1905, Harding was chosen to face the "Original All Blacks" on the New Zealander's first tour of Britain. The fact that Harding had faced the New Zealand side earlier in the tour, when they crushed Harding's Middlesex County, may have played a part in the Welsh tactics that disrupted the All Black's loose-head scrummaging.

=International games playedSmith (1980), pg 467.] =

* England 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1908
* Ireland 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907
* New Zealand 1905
* Scotland 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1908
* South Africa 1906

British Isles

In 1904 Harding was one of two Welsh forwards chosen to tour AustralasiaSmith (1980), pg 148.] under the captaincy of Bedell-Sivright. By 1908 Harding himself was chosen to captain a British Isles team on a 26 match tour of Australia and New Zealand.Smith (1980), pg 175.] Although the Australia leg of the tour was successful, the British team were outclassed against a very strong All Black team, drawning the second test but losing heavily in the first and third tests.

Later career and death

After the end of his international career, Harding emigrated to Wanganui, New Zealand and lived there until his death in 1947.Thomas (1979), pg 37.]

Bibliography

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References