Full name Richard Calvert Stafford
Born
July 23, 1893, Bedford
Died
December 1, 1912, Bedford (aged 19 years 131 days)
Major teams England
Position Prop
|
Span | Mat | Start | Sub | Pts | Tries | Conv | Pens | Drop | GfM | Won | Lost | Draw | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All Tests | 1912-1912 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 75 |
Five/Six Nations | 1912-1912 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 75 |
Test debut | England v Wales at Twickenham, Jan 20, 1912 match details |
Last Test | France v England at Parc des Princes, Apr 8, 1912 match details |
Test Statsguru | Main menu | Career summary | Match list | Tournament list |
Dick Stafford was 18 when he was picked to play against Wales in January 1912. He might have been chosen a year earlier - he played for the South against England in a national trial in December 1910 - and was already captain of his club, Bedford. To the London Evening News he was 'A veritable Hercules in strength and physique' and 'a born leader'. Stafford, described by the Daily Express as playing 'the game of his life' in the victory over Ireland and one of the few players generally exempted from criticism in the loss to Scotland, was there to stay. A muscle strain in October 1912 sidelined him - briefly - but after a couple of club matches he was confined to bed since 'the strain of his stomach has apparently been aggravated by a chill on the liver". When he failed to recover a specialist was sent for and diagnosed cancer of the spine. Three weeks later he died.
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