Lieutenant Colonel Roy Leyland OBE (6 March 1912 – 4 January 1984) was a British Army officer and England international rugby union player of the 1930s.[1][2]

Roy Leyland
Date of birth(1912-03-06)6 March 1912
Place of birthAstley, Lancashire, England
Date of death4 January 1984(1984-01-04) (aged 71)
Place of deathPewsey, Wiltshire, England
SchoolWigan Grammar School
UniversityLiverpool University
Occupation(s)Military officer
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre / Wing
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1935 England 3 (0)
1938 British Lions

Biography

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Leyland was born in Astley, a village between Manchester and Wigan. He attended Wigan Grammar School and Liverpool University, where he gained rugby colours his freshman year.[3]

A three-quarter, Leyland attained three England caps in the 1935 Home Nations Championship. These remained his only England matches, although he subsequently achieved a British Lions call up, making uncapped appearances on the 1938 tour South Africa. He played for the Army, Barbarians, Combined Services, Hampshire, Lancashire, Leicester, Richmond, Waterloo and Wigan Old Boys over the course of his career.[4]

Leyland served with the East Surrey Regiment during World War II and participated in the North West Europe campaign. He was a staff officer in Iraq during the early 1950s and in 1957 was awarded an OBE for his military service.[5] Retiring a Lieutenant Colonel in 1959, Leyland became a civilian lecturer at Sandhurst.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Roy Leyland As England Rugby Pivot?". Daily Herald. 26 November 1935.
  2. ^ "Roy Leyland To Play At Blundellsands". Evening Express. 22 December 1938.
  3. ^ "Famous Rugby Player". Evening Express. 15 August 1946.
  4. ^ a b "Officer who played rugby for England". Farnborough News. 10 February 1984.
  5. ^ "Honours for local people". Daily Post. 13 November 1957.
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