Question re: Watson and Rugby
I'm not lacking in rudimentary rugby knowledge, growing up in a rugby nation as I have, however, I am a little indecisive as to which position Watson was likely to have played. ACD never actually mentions it as far as I am aware, and even though I only need this info for a tiny little insignificant line in a fic, I like to stay as realistic as possible.
So, I thought we could discuss it. Using these references-
“P. S. I believe your friend Watson played Rugby for Blackheath when I was three-quarter for Richmond. It is the only personal introduction which I can give.” - Robert Ferguson, The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire, Post Script of Letter(1)
“Promptly at ten o’clock next morning Ferguson strode into our room. I had remembered him as a long, slab-sided man with loose limbs and a fine turn of speed which had carried him round many an opposing back. There is surely nothing in life more painful than to meet the wreck of a fine athlete whom one has known in his prime. His great frame had fallen in, his flaxen hair was scanty, and his shoulders were bowed. I fear that I roused corresponding emotions in him.
“Hullo, Watson,” said he, and his voice was still deep and hearty. “You don’t look quite the man you did when I threw you over the ropes into the crowd at the Old Deer Park. I expect I have changed a bit also. But it’s this last day or two that has aged me. I see by your telegram, Mr. Holmes, that it is no use my pretending to be anyone’s deputy.”” - Dr. Watson and Robert Ferguson, The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire, P26
- I feel I can safely assume that Watson played close to the sides, so a winger, centre, flanker, prop or lock. He also can't have been massively built if a Three-Quarter Winger could toss him (and they, aside from the trendsetting by Jonah Lomu and Rocacocoacolotlwhatever are traditionally small and fast), so that probably wipes out the first five. So, if he wasn't a lock or a prop, maybe he was a flanker. Watson mentions that Ferguson was agile at avoiding the backs, which meant that he could see him. So, same side of the field, only Watson's either in front of the backs (a forward) or he's at the rear of the backs (a three-quarter winger or the full back). That reduces the possibility of Watson playing any of the half backs or the inside centre. Still left with the flankers, wingers, full-back and the outside centre, though.
Now it comes down to Watson's physical characteristics. How tall is he? He had to be damn fit and damn good to be playing for Blackheath. He was obviously not a massively built man otherwise a winger wouldn't have had a chance in hell of throwing him over the ropes and into the crowd. I've also always imagined an uninjured Watson to be really fast - he keeps up with Holmes for the most part with a bung leg/shoulder/both, and Holmes is a gazelle. So this is where I need your help. I've got 6 positions to choose from:
Forwards
Blindside Flanker
Openside Flanker
Backs
Outside Centre
Right Wing
Left Wing
Full-back
Here's a picture of the general positioning of the players. (Wiki has the best grid image I could find).
And here is a frankly lol-tastic breakdown of positions by someone who has obviously played the game.
Also, uniform images for any who are interested in what the teams were wearing around that period.
NZ Maori/Natives 1888 tour <--- look at the barbarians! Wearing shorts! *scandalous*
First England Team 1871
Clifton College Rugby Players 1872-73
First Yale rugby team 1870s
How about a print of the British playing rugby during the Second Afghan War?
Print of famous rugby players 1881
I tried to find pictures of Blackheath Rugby Union but failed. All I know is that their colours are red and black. But if they striped them back then, or just used one colour and had the flower over the breast I have no idea.
So, I thought we could discuss it. Using these references-
“P. S. I believe your friend Watson played Rugby for Blackheath when I was three-quarter for Richmond. It is the only personal introduction which I can give.” - Robert Ferguson, The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire, Post Script of Letter(1)
“Promptly at ten o’clock next morning Ferguson strode into our room. I had remembered him as a long, slab-sided man with loose limbs and a fine turn of speed which had carried him round many an opposing back. There is surely nothing in life more painful than to meet the wreck of a fine athlete whom one has known in his prime. His great frame had fallen in, his flaxen hair was scanty, and his shoulders were bowed. I fear that I roused corresponding emotions in him.
“Hullo, Watson,” said he, and his voice was still deep and hearty. “You don’t look quite the man you did when I threw you over the ropes into the crowd at the Old Deer Park. I expect I have changed a bit also. But it’s this last day or two that has aged me. I see by your telegram, Mr. Holmes, that it is no use my pretending to be anyone’s deputy.”” - Dr. Watson and Robert Ferguson, The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire, P26
- I feel I can safely assume that Watson played close to the sides, so a winger, centre, flanker, prop or lock. He also can't have been massively built if a Three-Quarter Winger could toss him (and they, aside from the trendsetting by Jonah Lomu and Rocacocoacolotlwhatever are traditionally small and fast), so that probably wipes out the first five. So, if he wasn't a lock or a prop, maybe he was a flanker. Watson mentions that Ferguson was agile at avoiding the backs, which meant that he could see him. So, same side of the field, only Watson's either in front of the backs (a forward) or he's at the rear of the backs (a three-quarter winger or the full back). That reduces the possibility of Watson playing any of the half backs or the inside centre. Still left with the flankers, wingers, full-back and the outside centre, though.
Now it comes down to Watson's physical characteristics. How tall is he? He had to be damn fit and damn good to be playing for Blackheath. He was obviously not a massively built man otherwise a winger wouldn't have had a chance in hell of throwing him over the ropes and into the crowd. I've also always imagined an uninjured Watson to be really fast - he keeps up with Holmes for the most part with a bung leg/shoulder/both, and Holmes is a gazelle. So this is where I need your help. I've got 6 positions to choose from:
Forwards
Blindside Flanker
Openside Flanker
Backs
Outside Centre
Right Wing
Left Wing
Full-back
Here's a picture of the general positioning of the players. (Wiki has the best grid image I could find).
And here is a frankly lol-tastic breakdown of positions by someone who has obviously played the game.
Also, uniform images for any who are interested in what the teams were wearing around that period.
NZ Maori/Natives 1888 tour <--- look at the barbarians! Wearing shorts! *scandalous*
First England Team 1871
Clifton College Rugby Players 1872-73
First Yale rugby team 1870s
How about a print of the British playing rugby during the Second Afghan War?
Print of famous rugby players 1881
I tried to find pictures of Blackheath Rugby Union but failed. All I know is that their colours are red and black. But if they striped them back then, or just used one colour and had the flower over the breast I have no idea.