Ralph Matthews Noble (March 28, 1889 – May 10, 1918) was an American rugby union player who played at wing for the United States men's national team in its first capped match in 1912.
Full name | Ralph Matthews Noble | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | March 28, 1889 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Harlan, Iowa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of death | May 10, 1918 | (aged 29)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of death | Europe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Galesburg High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | Knox College Stanford University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early life and university years edit
Ralph Noble was born on March 28, 1889, in Harlan, Iowa,[1] the younger of two sons of Willard Noble and Elsie H. Noble (born Goddard).[2] Noble attended Galesburg High School in Galesburg, Illinois, where he was a multi-sport athlete.[3] Noble then attended Knox College before transferring to Stanford University in 1910.[3][4] Noble was ineligible to play with the university's rugby team in 1910, but played at second-five during the 1911 season and at wing during the 1912 season.[4] On November 16, 1912, Noble played for the United States team at wing in its first capped match—a 12–8 loss to Australia.[5] Noble graduated from Stanford with a degree in mathematics in 1912[3][2] and served as the rugby coach at San Diego High School in 1913[6] before returning to Galesburg, Illinois[3] where he worked as a farmer with his father.[2]
Military service and death edit
On May 15, 1917, Noble enlisted in the United States Army.[2][3] On September 1, 1917, Noble was commissioned as a lieutenant at Fort Sheridan.[2][3] While with the Army, Noble served with fellow United States rugby players Danny Carroll and Deke Gard in the West European theatre during World War I.[7] In May 1918, while serving as an aerial observer, he was shot down behind enemy lines.[7] Noble died on May 10, 1918[1] at a German Red Cross hospital as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.[7] Noble was posthumously awarded the Croix de Guerre "for his skill, initiative and devotion in the performance of his duties."[3] He was buried at the Somme American Cemetery in Bony, Aisne in northern France.[3]
References edit
- ^ a b "Ralph Noble". ESPN. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Ralph Matthews Noble". The Rugby History Society. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Fisher, Talbot (June 6, 2018). "Talbot Fisher: Ralph Noble crashes, dies in WWI". The Register-Mail. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- ^ a b "Erb to Play for Fourth Time on Team". The San Francisco Chronicle. Vol. CI, no. 116. Stanford University. November 7, 1912. p. 8. Retrieved November 8, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Australia Tour – Berkeley, 16 November 1912". ESPN. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- ^ "Ralph Noble has Double in Name". Los Angeles Times. September 11, 1913. p. 28. Retrieved November 8, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c Cooper, Stephen; Leonard, Jason (August 3, 2015). After the Final Whistle: The First Rugby World Cup and the First World War. The History Press. pp. 124–125. ISBN 9780750965668.