December 30: Sunderland Rugby Football Club’s First Match

Rugby Shorts

‘Less than a week’ after their formation, the Sunderland Rugby Football Club played their first match at Holmeside on this day in rugby history in 1873.  The match was between a Sunderland side and a pick-up side.

“It was a lively contest and was not decided until the very last minute, when Kidson scored a try. This was converted into a winning, and all-important, goal by Mr J Laing Jnr,” said Keith in the Sunderland Herald at the time.

“This game is taken as the beginning of Sunderland RFC, and the club has continued to play unbroken – except for war – since that game.”

And also on this day in rugby history, Lee Jackson is a legend in English rugby league and the hooker was born in 1969 in Hull.

Rugby Birthdays

1985 – Bryson Goodwin, Rugby League player