Luddington – W G E (First Rating as Captain of Navy Rugby)

W.G.E. Luddington

Born 8 Feb 1894, Aldershot, England

Died 10 Jan 1941, at Sea whilst serving on HMS Illustrious

 

84th player to be capped by the Royal Navy Rugby Union

16 caps

Played against the Army in 1921, 1922,1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1930

Played against the RAF in 1921, 1922,1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1930

 

Inter Service Record

Played 10 Won 5 Drew 0 Lost 6
Inter Service Titles 3



1921 Royal Navy 11 Army 10

1921 Royal Navy 33 Royal Air Force 3

1922 Royal Navy 7 Army 3

1922 Royal Navy 9 Royal AIr Force 6

1923 Royal Navy 16 Army 11

1923 Royal Navy 0 Royal Air Force 3

1924 Royal Navy 5 Army 19

1924 Royal Navy 16 Royal Air Force 9

1925 Royal Navy 8 Army 11

1925 Royal Navy 3 Royal Air Force 30

1926 Royal Navy 10 Army 24

1926 Royal Navy 8 Royal AIr Force 3

1927 Royal Navy 6 Army 3

1927 Royal Navy 8 Royal Air Force 3

1930 Royal Navy 10 Army 16

1930 Royal Navy 11 Royal Air Force 3

 

Clubs

Devonport Services RFC

US Portsmouth RFC



Master-at-Arms William George Ernest Luddington was for many years the most capped Navy rugby player. His sixteen caps for the Navy was eventually equalled in 1964 by Lt Cdr Glyn Thomas RN and again in 1966 by Lt Cdr Dave Hambrook RN. It was not surpassed until Lt Cdr John Ackerman RN won his seventeenth cap in 1979. John eventually went on to win twenty caps.

There is an excellent article on Luddington to be found on the website of the Rugby History Society. Before his tragic death, in Service on board HMS Illustrious Luddington was rightly acclaimed for his touch line conversion to win the 1923 Calcutta game. At the time E.W. Roberts, another navy Rugby Great, was credited for having the foresight to station Luddinton in Devonport for a week of kicking practice.

William Luddington was, in 1926, the first non commissioned officer to captain the Royal Navy rugby team.  The Royal Navy had only allowed rating to play in the representative team from 1920 and it was going to be wait for a further 30 years before the next rating was to be appointed captain of the side.