James Peters

liverpool annie · Oct 19, 2009

I'm not sure if he went to war ... but he deserves to be here ....

James Peters ..... Born 7 August 1879 in Salford.

He trained in a circus with his family (bare-backed rider). Abandoned and sent to Fegan's Homes - an orphanage in London - by a lady in Dorset. Became captain of the Home's cricket and rugby teams and was able to watch Blackheath's games for free.

He moved to Bristol in 1898 and worked as a Carpenter. He was a 'strict teetotaller'. Made 35 appearances for Bristol FC in a strong side.

1902 he moved to Plymouth where he was an outstanding fly-half. He played for Plymouth RFC, one of England's top club sides, for a decade - and worked in the Royal Naval Dockyard, Devonport.

From 1903-1909 he made 26 County Championship appearances, including 2 finals for Devon. In 1906 The Springboks "made a scene" and refused to play against a black man so the South African High Commissioner had to come down from the stand and persuade them to take the field.

He had 5 caps for England 1906-1908. It was an open secret that not everyone in the sport approved of his selection. He might have been selected sooner.
Certain clubs in the South West attempt to join the Northern Union (later 'Rugby League'). Desperate for competitive fixtures to fend off the rising popularity of soccer they try to form a Western League of the Northern Union.

Many players including Peters and also RFC Plymouth were suspended by RFU. Plymouth Ground closed signaling the end of Plymouth RFC.

Peters was signed by Barrow in September 1913 and transferred to St Helens in 1914.

He later returned to Plymouth - and died in 1954 aged 74.
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Museum of Rugby

liverpool annie · Oct 20, 2009

JAMES PETERS 1879 - 1954 -

James Peters is notable as the first black man to play Rugby Union for England and was one of the first ever cross - code rugby players, represented Knowle, Bristol and Devon in rugby union before moving to play Rugby League for Barrow and St Helens.

James Peters was born in Salford, Manchester on 7th August, 1879 of mixed parentage, his mother a local girl, married his father George who hailed from the West Indies.

Peters early years were spent travelling the country with his parents as part of a circus troupe. During this period of his life he became an accomplished bare-back rider and gymnast, but the tragedy of his father’s untimely death when he was mauled to death by lions.

The economics circumstances of the period for a widow with a child, Peter’s mother abandoned him into the care Fegan's Orphanage, in Southwark and the Little Wanderers Home, in Greenwich.

During his time at the orphanages his gymnastic abilities and his determination to succeed came to the for as he developed into an outstanding athlete, winning the 100 yards, mile, long jump, high jump and walking races in 1894. He also developed as a rugby player and was given the captaincy of the orphanage rugby team.
On leaving the orphanage, Peters worked locally in the printing trade until he moved to Bristol 1898. At the age of 21 he joined Knowle Rugby Club and was given the Nicknamed of either "Sunny Jim" or "Darkie" he played for the Dings and Knowle before going on to play to Bristol. On joining Bristol a number of the clubs white members objected to the inclusion of a black man and resigned.

In 1902 Peters moved to Plymouth and found work at the Royal Naval Dockyard as a carpenter and continued his rugby career playing for Plymouth. The following year he was selected to represent England and in November 1903 Peters was awarded his first county cap for Devon. When Devon won the County Championship journalists began to campaign for Peters to play for England.

In 1906 Peters was selected to play for England against Scotland He also played in the following match against France, a game in which he scored a try. It was suggested that he was left out of England's next game against the touring Springbok.

On 17th March 1907, Peters regained his England place at stand-off against Scotland, scoring a try. The newspapers at the time made no reference to the fact that he was the first black man to be selected to play in an English international game. Although The Sportsman commented that the "dusky Plymouth man did many good things, especially in passing." The Yorkshire Post praised his performance but pointed out that "his selection is by no means popular on racial grounds." He was also selected to play against Wales. However, he was dropped for the game against Ireland on 8th February 1908.
In 1910 Peters lost three fingers in a dockyard accident. He continued to play rugby until 1912 when he was suspended after it was discovered he had been paid by Devon Rugby Club. The RFU punished 38 players and officials, including Peters, for attempting to form a breakaway professional rugby league in the South West.

As a consequence he moved to Rugby League and became legend in Rugby League circles after making a quick start to his career with Barrow, kicking nine goals in his first 10 games for the club in 1913.

Peters was regarded by contemporary observers as the "cleverest half-back in the kingdom bar none" and his success brought a big move to St Helens in 1914. However, he never found his true form and retired from rugby league within a year.

James Peters died on 26th March, 1954.
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