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1911 - Frederick Ernest Chapman

Rugby Player
Original note 1122
Hartlepool

Born in Cleadon in 1888,  Freddie Chapman, studied medicine at the College of Medicine, Durham University and played Rugby for his home club of Westoe.  He played for his Club on that wing and with Durham County and England and was on 1908 British Lions tour in Australia and New Zealand. 

That year he also played for an Anglo-Welsh XV against the touring Australians. He played for England whilst a Westoe player in all four 1910 Internationals, one of which, England v Wales marked the opening of the stadium at Twickenham, Chapman has the distinction of being the first player to score a try, conversion and penalty on this famed ground, the win over Wales being the first win by England against the Welsh for 14 seasons.

Joining Rovers in 1911 he career was dogged initially by injury but whilst with Rovers he went on to play a further 3 games for England and resumed his County career, but like all of his generation the Great War brought his Rugby to close but remarkably the last of his 31 appearance for Durham was against Yorkshire in the 1919 campaign.

Having served in the Royal Navy and R A M C during the War Freddie Chapman continued as a Doctor in town and as an Honorary Surgeon at Hartlepools Hospital.  He died at his home in Cliff Terrace aged just 50 in 1938.


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