Cuth Mullins

Cuth Mullins

Full name	Reginald Cuthbert Mullins
Date of birth	28 June 1873
Place of birth	Grahamstown, South Africa
Date of death	15 June 1938
School	St. Andrew's College
University	Keble College, Oxford
Notable relative(s)	Charles Herbert Mullins, brother
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Forward
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
	Oxford University RFC Guy's Hospital
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1896	British Isles	2	(0)

Dr. Reginald Cuthbert "Cuth" Mullins (28 June 1873 – 15 June 1938)^[1] was a South African rugby union forward and medical doctor. Mullins played club rugby for Oxford University and played international rugby for the British Isles XV in their 1896 tour of South Africa.

Personal history

Mullins was born in Grahamstown, South Africa in 1873 to Rev Canon R.J. Mullins, and was educated at St. Andrew's College before moving to Britain to study medicine at Keble College, Oxford.^[2] After leaving Keble he took his conjoint from Guy's Hospital and held the standard house appoitments there. In 1899 he returned to South Africa, enlisting as a Civil Surgeon at the Yeomanry Hospital, Pretoria during the Second Boer War.^[2] He returned to Britain in 1900 to complete his studies. During the Boer War, one of Mullins' brothers, Charles Herbert Mullins, was awarded the Victory Cross for his actions at the Battle of Elandslaagte.

After Mullins qualified as a doctor he returned to South Africa, working as a medical officer on the Rand, before settling in Grahamstown.^[2] In Grahamstown he set up in practice with a Dr. Drury, and at the same time took the role of medical officer St. Andrews College, his old school.^[2] By 1905, Mullins had become the President of the Grahamstown branch of the British Medical Association.^[3]

With the outbreak of the First World War, Mullins again served his country, and was made a temporary Captain of the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1917.^[4] In 1918 he was mentioned in despatches.^[2]

Mullins retired from medicine in 1937 and moved to his son's farm, 'Faber's Kraal' in the Highlands area outside Grahamstown. He died at the farm in 1938.

Rugby career

Mullins came to note as a rugby player when he was selected to play for Oxford University. He won one sporting 'Blue', playing in the Varsity Match of the 1894/95 season. Playing in the Oxford team alongside Mullins was Walter Julius Carey who would journey with the same British Isles team as Mullins in 1896. The game ended in a draw, though Oxford were seen as fortunate not to lose.^[5]

In 1896 Mullins was invited to return to South Africa, as part of the British Isles touring team. Mullins played in 13 matches of a 21 game tour, including two of the Test games against South African national team;^[6] placing him in the strange situation of representing Britain against his home nation. Mullins was selected for the First Test, played at Port Elizabeth, and the Third Test at Kimberley, the tourists won both games. As well as his old Cambridge team mate Carey, Mullins was joined in the British team by Robert Johnson, who fought alongside Mullins brother Charles, being awarded the Victory Cross for his involvement in the same action at Elandslaagte. When Mullins returned to Britain at the end of the tour he continued playing rugby, and after leaving Oxford for Guy's Hospital he joined the Hospital team. Mullins was given the captaincy of Guy's Hospital FC for two seasons from 1898-1900^[7] and in 1899 he led the team to the United Hospitals Cup.^[2]

Notes

1. ^ Cuthbert Mullins player profile Scrum.com
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "Dr C Mullins". 1938-08-13. http://google.com/search?q=cache:uc25GICF3s0J:196.33.159.102/SAMA/1938%2520VOL%2520XII%2520Jan-Dec/Articles/08%2520August/1.9%2520OBITUARY%2520DR.%2520R.C.%2520Mullins.pdf+%22Cuthbert+Mullins%22&cd=15&hl=en&ct=clnk. Retrieved 2009-08-27. 
3. ^ Cape of Good Hope (Eastern Province Branch) British Medical Association The Transvaal Medical Journal, 1 October 1905
4. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30286. p. 9543. 1917-8-5. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
5. ^ Marshall, Howard; Jordon, J.P. (1951). Oxford v Cambridge, The Story of the University Rugby Match. London: Clerke & Cockeran. pp. 86–87. 
6. ^ Cuthbert Mullins Lions profile lionsrugby.com
7. ^ Guy's Hospital honours board guysrugby.com

References

• Griffiths, John (1987). The Phoenix Book of International Rugby Records. London: Phoenix House. ISBN 0-460-07003-7. 

Persondata
Name	Mullins, Cuth
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	28 June 1873
Place of birth	Grahamstown, South Africa
Date of death	15 June 1938
Place of death