Bert Solomon

Bert Solomon (8 March 1885 – 30 June 1961) regarded by many as the finest rugby player to ever come out of Cornwall, was a Cornish rugby union player who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics at White City Stadium, London. He played for Redruth R.F.C. and was capped 26 times for Cornwall.

Bert Solomon

Birth name	Bert Solomon
Date of birth	8 March 1885 (1885-03-08)
Place of birth	Redruth, Cornwall
Date of death	30 June 1961 (1961-07-01) (aged 76)
Place of death	Redruth, Cornwall
School	Trewirgie School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing/Centre Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1903-10 1904-09 Redruth RFC Cornwall ? 26 () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1910 England 1 (3)
Medal record Men's rugby union Representing Great Britain Olympic Games 1908 London Team competition

He was a member of the Cornwall rugby union team, which on 26 October 1908 won the Olympic silver medal for Great Britain. He also played for Cornwall in the County Championship final match against Durham that same year at Redruth, scoring twice in a famous 17-3 victory, Bert was capped by England against Wales in 1910, the first year Twickenham opened and scored a wonderful individual try in an 11-6 win. Although being selected for further matches against Scotland, Ireland, and France, he declined and also declined an invitation to tour with the British and Irish Lions in 1908 to Australia and New Zealand. Around the same time, it was reported that he refused 400 golden sovereigns to sign for a Rugby league team in the north of England.

In 1910, when he was just 25 years old and in his prime, Bert Solomon hung his boots up, and a legend was created.

It is also reported that Bert was a solitary character who liked nothing better than his pigeons. Sometimes, he refused to play for Redruth if his pigeons were still out, and he often had to be coaxed into playing. Such was his skill that he apparently made a difference of 1000 people on a crowd.

The Solomon legacy will forever live in the hearts and memories of all Cornish rugby supporters, he excited a generation of Cornish folk with his dazzling skills, a rugby genius who was outshining the greatest internationals of his era and who at the end of the day was happier out of the spotlight.

A book has been published regarding his life and career.

See also

• Cornish rugby
• Rugby union at the 1908 Summer Olympics

External links

• profile at the Wayback Machine (archived 2007-02-08)
• Bert Solomon at ESPNscrum
• Bert Solomon at Olympedia