George Boots

Infobox Rugby biography
name = George Boots


caption =
birthname = George Boots
nickname =
birthyear = 1874
birthmonth = 7
birthday = 2
placeofbirth = Aberbeeg, Monmouthshire [ [http://www.blackandambers.co.uk/Personnel.aspx?pr=106312 Newport RFC player profiles] ]
deathyear = 1928
deathmonth = 12
deathday = 29
placeofdeath = Newport, Monmouthshire
height = 5ft 10¾inThomas (1979), pg 21.]
weight = 13st
ru_position = Forward
ru_amateuryears = ??? ??? ??? ??? 1895-1922
ru_amateurclubs = Blackheath R.C.
Cross Keys RFC
London Welsh RFC
Pill Harriers RFC
Newport RFC
ru_amclubcaps =
ru_amclubpoints =
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalteam = Wales
ru_nationalyears = 1898-1904
ru_nationalcaps = 16
ru_nationalpoints = (3)
ru_ntupdate =
ru_coachclubs =
ru_coachyears =
ru_coachupdate =
other =
occupation =
spouse =
children =
relatives =
school =
university =
url =

George Boots (1874-1928) was a Welsh international forward who played club rugby union for Newport and county rugby with Monmouthshire. He won 16 caps for Wales.

Boots was seen as a consistent player with a superb positional sense who would tackle hard and smother the loose ball; his passing skill was strong as was his catching and dribbling. Boots was not a flair player but was a good 'spoiler' and could turn defence into attack, giving backs, such as Nicholls and Lloyd, a platform to run in tries. Boots had an exceptionally long rugby career, in spite of being on his death bed in 1908 with acute pleurisy.

Rugby career

Club career

Boots rugby career started with club side Pill Harriers the tough Newport Docks club that produced fellow Wales internationals Tommy Vile and George Travers. Boots had one of the longest careers in top-flight Welsh rugby, he joined Newport in 1895 and played his last match for them in 1922. This was his 365th Newport game and at the age of 47 he is the oldest player to have represented the club in an official game. [ [http://www.blackandambers.co.uk/Personnel.aspx?pr=106312 Newport RFC player profiles] ]

International career

Boots made his international debut in a Welsh victory against Ireland on 19 March 1898 . In 16 matches he scored a single try for Wales in a game against Scotland in 1901. One of Boots' finest moments in a Welsh jersey was in the 1903 game against Ireland at the Cardiff Arms Park. In the first half of the game he provided excellent tackling to provide a solid ground for the backs to attack, even though he broke his collar bone during one of the exchanges. Through pain Boots continued tackling during the first half but retired in the interval, but by then the damage was done and Wales dominated Ireland to win 18-0.Parry-Jones (1999), pg 103.]

"International matches played"Smith (1980), pg 463.]
* England 1898, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904
* Ireland 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903
* Scotland 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903

Bibliography

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References