Charles Austin (rugby union)

Charles Allphin Austin[1] (June 3, 1892 – March 15, 1980) was an American rugby union player, official, and coach who played center for the United States men's national team in its first two capped matches in 1912 and 1913. Austin also served as coach of the United States team that won the gold medal at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris.

This article is about the American rugby union player and coach. For other people named Charles Austin, see Charles Austin (disambiguation).

Charles Austin
Austin with the US team in 1912 (pictured front row, first from left)
Full nameCharles Allphin Austin
Date of birth(1892-06-03)June 3, 1892
Place of birthBellingham, Washington
Date of deathMarch 15, 1980(1980-03-15) (aged 87)
Place of deathMarin, California
SchoolBerkeley High School
UniversityStanford University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Center
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
c. 1912–1913
1913–c. 1916		 Olympic Club RFC
Stanford University		 ()
Correct as of November 1, 2018
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1912–1913 United States 2 0
Correct as of November 1, 2018
Teams coached
Years Team
1916
1924		 Santa Clara University
United States

Biography

Charles Austin was born on June 3, 1892, in Bellingham, Washington, the son of William Charles Austin.[2] Austin attended Berkeley High School, where he played for the school's rugby team[3] and was named to a regional all-star team following the 1911 season.[4] By 1912, he had joined the Olympic Club[5] and played in the team's match against Australia during their 1912 tour of the United States and Canada.[6] On November 16, 1912, Austin played for the United States at center in its first capped match—a 12–8 loss to Australia.[7]

In 1913, Austin began attending Stanford University, where he and Daniel Carroll were among the members of the freshman class that played for the university's rugby team.[8] While with the Stanford team, he competed against New Zealand during their 1913 tour of the United States and Canada.[9] On November 15, 1913, Austin returned to the United States team and played again at center in its first test match against New Zealand—a 51–3 defeat.[10]

In 1916, Austin became the coach of the rugby team at Santa Clara University.[11] It was originally announced that he would return to coach the team for the 1917 season,[12] but he did not.[13] Also during the 1916 rugby season, Austin served as head linesman for the California high school state championship game.[14] In 1924, Austin coached the United States national team at the Summer Olympics in Paris—a competition in which the Americans won the gold medal for a second consecutive Games.[15]

On March 15, 1980, Charles Austin died in Marin, California at the age of 87.[16]

References
  1. "Charlie Austin". espn.co.uk. ESPN. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  2. "United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5Y-XWCW : March 16, 2018), Charles Allphin Austin, 1924; citing Passport Application, California, United States, source certificate #384043, Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925, 2453, NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  3. "Berkeley High Will Have Fast Rugby Team in Field". The Oakland Tribune. LXXV (175) (Last ed.). August 14, 1911. p. 12. Retrieved November 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "BOBS." (December 17, 1911). "Scribe Names an All-Star Rugby Fifteen". The San Francisco Chronicle. XCIX (155). p. 58. Retrieved November 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "College Rugby Teams Lining Up". The San Francisco Call. August 25, 1912. p. 46. Retrieved November 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "BOBS." (October 20, 1912). "Winged O Ruggers Outclassed by Waratahs". The San Francisco Chronicle. CI (97). p. 57. Retrieved November 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Australia Tour - Berkeley, 16 November 1912". espn.co.uk. ESPN. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  8. "Stanford Coaches Face Hard Problem This Season". The Oakland Tribune. LXXX (25) (Last ed.). September 14, 1913. p. 25. Retrieved November 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "All Blacks to Play To-Day at Stanford". The San Francisco Examiner. XCIX (107). Stanford University. October 14, 1913. p. 12. Retrieved November 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "New Zealand Tour - Berkeley, 15 November 1913". espn.co.uk. ESPN. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  11. "Two Rugby Stars of Santa Clara in War". The Salt Lake Herald-Republican. XIV (27). August 31, 1916. p. 6. Retrieved November 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Charles Austin Again Coach at Santa Clara". The San Bernardino County Sun. XLVI (137). Associated Press. August 9, 1917. p. 5. Retrieved November 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Santa Clara Coach Tries New Methods". The San Francisco Examiner. CVII (137) (Main ed.). October 10, 1917. p. 22. Retrieved November 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Berkeley to Meet Stockton for Rugby Title". The San Francisco Chronicle. CIX (133). November 25, 1916. p. 6. Retrieved November 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. Caple, Jim (August 9, 2016). "Americans took long, strange trip to rugby gold in 1924 Olympics". ESPN. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  16. "California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGB4-4X6 : November 26, 2014), Charles Allphin Austin, Mar 15, 1980; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
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