Percy Robert Diggle

{{Short description|British Lions international rugby union player}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Use British English|date=September 2016}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Percy Robert Diggle

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name = Percy Robert Diggle

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1887|11|27}}

| birth_place = London, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|1977|1887}}

| death_place =

| height =

| weight =

| position = Forward[http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/match/19137.html Great Britain XV tour - Flores, 12 June 1910 ]

| amatyears1 = 1907-

| amatyears2 = 1910-

| amatteam1 = Oxford University

| amatteam2 = Cumberland[http://nicheto.rugbytime.com/2010/07/16/argentina-vs-inglaterra-1910-primer-test-de-la-historia/ History of the 1910 Combined British Tour to Argentina at nicheto.rugbytime.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514034230/http://nicheto.rugbytime.com/2010/07/16/argentina-vs-inglaterra-1910-primer-test-de-la-historia/ |date=14 May 2012 }}

| ru_amclubcaps =

| ru_amclubpoints =

| ru_amupdate =

| repteam1 = Combined British

| repyears1 = 1910

| repcaps1 = 1

| reppoints1 =

| ru_ntupdate =

| coachteams1 =

| coachyears1 =

| ru_coachupdate =

| school = Marlborough College

}}

Percy Robert Diggle was an English sportsman who played rugby union at an international level, touring Argentina with the 1910 Combined British rugby union side, an early incarnation of the British and Irish Lions.

Early life

Percy Robert Diggle was born on 27 November 1887, the son of the Venerable Archdeacon, the Right Reverend John William Diggle, who would later become the Bishop of Carlisle and his second wife Edith Moss, (the daughter of Gilbert Winter Moss and Eliza Seilliere Zwilchenbart whom he married on 23 April 1884).Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 1, page 1276. He attended Marlborough College where he featured as captain of the School's second fifteen rugby squad, though he did not play in the first fifteen.Marlborough College, Marlborough College register from 1843 to 1904 inclusive, Edition 5, (H. Hart, printer), 1905 He went on to Oxford University where he received his blue for rugby.

Rugby union

Diggle played rugby at school, though did not feature in the first choice fifteen. However, he did represent Oxford University. He went on to represent his home county of Cumberland and although he was never selected to play rugby for England, he was selected to tour with the Combined British on the 1910 tour to Argentina where he played in what Argentina count as their first test match.

Career and later life

In 1911 Diggle was listed as a member of the Inner TempleThe Weekly notes: Volume 46, Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales, Great Britain. Courts, Great Britain. Parliament. House of Lords – 1911 and by 1938 listed his occupation as the director of a company. In 1923 he married Edwina Margery SteadGeneral Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. London, England: General Register Office, Apr-May-Jun 1923, Carlisle, Volume Number: 10b; Page Number: 1123 who was 13 years his junior. The couple lived in Penrith. He died in 1977, his death being registered in Kendal.General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. London, England: General Register Office, Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1977; Registration district: Kendal; Volume: 1; Page: 0563

References