Charles Dick (rugby union)

Charles Dick (26 July 1913 – 10 May 2004) was a Scotland international rugby union player. He played as a Centre.[1]

Charles Dick

Birth name	Robert Charles Stewart Dick
Date of birth	26 July 1913
Place of birth	Sevenoaks, England
Date of death	10 May 2004 (aged 90)
Place of death	Christchurch, New Zealand
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) - Guy's Hospital () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1938 Scotland Probables () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1934-38 Scotland 14 (18)

Rugby Union career

Amateur career

Dick played rugby union for Guy's Hospital.[2]

Provincial career

He was supposed to play for the Scotland Probables in the first trial match of season 1937-38. The match due on 18 December 1937 was called off due to frost despite the contingency of straw being placed on The Greenyards pitch at Melrose. He did however turn out for the Scotland Probables side for the second and final trial match of that season, on 15 January 1938.[3]

International career

Dick was capped by Scotland 14 times, and captained the side.[4]

Having taken an appointment at Windsor, Dick pulled out of international rugby in 1939, informing the SRU that he could not continue due to business reasons.[5]

The Scotsman noted his absence from the international side:[6]

It will be noted with some dismay amongst Scottish Rugby followers that R. C. S. Dick is an absentee. Dick, not only a great defensive player but a possessor of brilliant touches and a running swerre without equal in Rugby football at the moment, has had business engagements that have made his availability doubtful and there must be fears now that he will not play again for Scotland.

Medical career

He was a doctor. After the Second World War he emigrated to New Zealand. He became the Queen's Honorary Physician in 1958; and was appointed as the medical superintendent of the Princess Margaret Hospital in Christchurch.[7]

References

1. "Robert Charles Stewart Dick". ESPN scrum.
2. Scotland. The Essential History of Rugby Union. Nick Oswald and John Griffiths. Headline Publishing. 2003.
3. "Register | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
4. "Rugby Union - ESPN Scrum - Statsguru - Player analysis - Charles Dick - Test matches". ESPN scrum.
5. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000540/19390104/178/0016
6. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000540/19390103/269/0005
7. "Charles Dick" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.