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{{short description|English rugby union footballer and coach}}
{{Cleanup|date=March 2011}}
{{Copy edit|date=March 2011}}
{{no footnotes|date=August 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2020}}
'''Martin Alun Whitcombe''' (born 14 September 1961 in [[Keighley]], [[Yorkshire]]) is a former [[Rugby Union]] Footballer of the 80's and 90's.
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
|name = Martin Whitcombe
|fullname = Martin Alun Whitcombe
|image =
|caption = Martin Whitcombe
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|09|14|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Keighley]], West Riding of Yorkshire, England
|height =
|weight =
|position = [[Loosehead prop and tighthead prop|Prop]]
|clubs1 = [[Leicester Tigers]]
|years1 = 1981–86
|apps1 = 68
|points1 = 40
|repteam1 = [[Combined Services]]
|repyears1 = 1982–87
|repcaps1 = 12
|reppoints1 = 0
|repteam2 = [[Royal Air Force Rugby Union]]
|repyears2 = 1981–87
|repcaps2 = 62
|reppoints2 = 35
|clubs2 = [[Bedford Blues]]
|years2 = 1986–87
|apps2 = 24
|points2 = 20
|clubs3 = [[Sale Sharks]]
|years3 = 1987–94
|apps3 = 151
|points3 =
|clubs4 = [[Yorkshire Carnegie|Leeds Tykes]]
|years4 = 1995–98
|apps4 = 47
|points4 =
|repteam3 = [[England Saxons|England 'B']]
|repyears3 = 1985–90
|repcaps3 = 3
|reppoints3 =
|repteam4 = [[Rugby Football Union Northern Division|England Northern Division]]
|repyears4 = 1986–95
|repcaps4 = 37
|reppoints4 =
|repteam5 = [[Yorkshire Rugby Football Union|Yorkshire]]
|repyears5 = 1986–90
|repcaps5 = 21
|reppoints5 =
|repteam6 = [[Leicestershire Rugby Football Union|Leicestershire]]
|repyears6 = 1981–85
|repcaps6 = 10
|reppoints6 =
}}


'''Martin Alun Whitcombe''' (born 14 September 1961 in [[Keighley]], West Riding of Yorkshire) is an English former [[rugby union]] footballer who played in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and coached in the 2000s.
He learnt to play rugby at [[Keighley RUFC]] and went on to have a long playing career for [[Leicester Tigers]], [[Bedford RFC]], [[Sale RFC|Sale FC]], and [[Leeds Tykes]], at [[prop (rugby union)|prop]] i.e. 1 or 3. At a representative level he played for [[Yorkshire]], The [[Northern Division (Rugby Union)|Northern Division]], and [[England]] at [[England national under-20 rugby union team|19 Group]], Under 23 and [[England Saxons|England 'B']].


He learnt to play rugby at [[Keighley RUFC]] and had a long playing career for [[Leicester Tigers]], [[Bedford RFC]], [[Sale RFC|Sale FC]], and [[Leeds Tykes]], at [[prop (rugby union)|prop]] i.e. 1 or 3. At a representative level he played for [[Yorkshire Rugby Football Union|Yorkshire]], The [[Northern Division (Rugby Union)|Northern Division]], and [[England national rugby union team|England]] at [[England national under-20 rugby union team|19 Group]], Under 23 and [[England Saxons|England 'B']].
==Early life==
Martin Whitcombe was one of four children growing up in the family run business, The Airedale Heifer Inn a [[public house]] in Sandbeds, [[Keighley]], which was run by his rugby playing father [[Frank Whitcombe Jr]]. He attended [[Bingley Grammar School]], where he was capped, [[Cap (sport)|caped]], four times by [[England]] Schools 19 Group in the [[1980]] Five Nations Tournament.


== Early life ==
After leaving school Whitcombe joined the [[Royal Air Force]] as a [[Physical Training Instructor]]. This three part course included PTI training at [[RAF Cosford]] the [[Basic Parachute Course]] at [[No. 1 Parachute Training School RAF]] and Adventurous training at [[Llanrwst]] in North Wales. After passing out with the rank of [[Corporal]] , Whitcombe was posted to [[RAF North Luffenham]] in then [[Leicestershire]] (now [[Rutland]]) living in the village of [[Uppingham]]. This enabled Martin to accept an earlier invitation to join [[Leicester Tigers]].
Martin Whitcombe was one of four children growing up in the family-run business, the Airedale Heifer Inn, a [[public house]] in Sandbeds, [[Keighley]], which was run by his rugby-playing father [[Frank Whitcombe Jr]]. He attended [[Crossflatts]] Primary School, Ryshworth Middle School, and [[Bingley Grammar School]], where he was [[Cap (sport)|capped]], four times by England Schools 19 Group in the 1980 Five Nations Tournament.


After leaving school Whitcombe joined the [[Royal Air Force]] as a [[physical training instructor]]. This three-part course included PTI training at [[RAF Cosford]], the [[Basic Parachute Course]] at [[No. 1 Parachute Training School RAF|No. 1 Parachute Training School]] and Adventurous training at [[Llanrwst]] in North Wales. After passing out with the rank of [[corporal]], Whitcombe was posted to [[RAF North Luffenham]] in [[Edith Weston]] and living in the [[market town]] of [[Uppingham]]. This enabled Martin to accept an earlier invitation to join [[Leicester Tigers]].
==Royal Air Force & Combined Services Rugby==


== Royal Air Force and Combined Services Rugby ==
While in the RAF Whitcombe was capped fourteen times in the Inter Services Tournement playing against the [[Royal Navy]] & the [[Army]] at [[Twickenham]]. The Royal Air Force won the Inter Services title three times in 1982, 1985, and 1986 during his seven years of service.


While in the RAF Whitcombe won the first of his fourteen caps as an [[Aircraftman]] while still under training at [[RAF Cosford]], against the [[Royal Navy Rugby Union|Royal Navy]] on 28 February 1981 in the Inter Services Tournament at [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]] & his second cap a week later against the [[Army Rugby Union|Army]].
He represented the Combined Services rugby team eighteen times including the very competitive games against French Armed Forces.On the 29 December 1981 he played against [[Tony Shaw (rugby)|Tony Shaw]]'s [[Australian Wallabies]] at [[Aldershot Military Stadium]]. He also played against Australia again at the same ground this time on the 27 October 1984 against [[Andrew Slack]]'s Australian Wallabie team. Whitcombe played against [[Canada]] at the [[United Services Portsmouth Rugby Football Club|US Portsmouth RFC]] on 14 October on their 1983 tour on England.


In July 1981 Whitcombe visited the United States with the RAF rugby team, staying at [[Bergstrom Air Force Base]] in [[Texas]] the Royal Air Force team won the [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] Rugby Tournament defeating [[Houston]] in the final. Here Whitcombe played in the front five with two outstanding Royal Air Force forwards [[Peter Larter]] & [[John Orwin]].
==Club Rugby career==
Whitcombe joined Leicester Tigers in July 1981 playing his first game for the club against [[Northampton Saints]] away, on the 16th October, he made his home debut against [[Swansea RFC]] on the 24th October at [[Welford Road Stadium|Welford Road]] and scored a try. Whitcombe represented Leicester Tigers against the Australian Wallabies at Welford Road on the 25th November 1981; the Australian team was Captained by [[Mark Loane]]. Whitcombe played twice against the [[Barbarian F.C.|Babarian's]] during his Leicester career and toured [[Zimbabwe]] with Tigers in 1982, playing in both games against [[Zimbabwe]] in [[Harare]] and [[Bulawayo]]. In 1984 on the [[Middle East]] tour to [[Bahrain]] & [[Dubai]] and in 1985 to [[France]].


During his seven years of service, Whitcombe was part of the Royal Air Force team which went on to enjoy a golden era in the 1980s winning a [[hat-trick]] of Inter Service titles: in 1982 (for only the fourth time since 1945), then in 1985, and 1986. (The 1984 title was a triple tie.)
Whitcombe left Leicester in 1986 to join [[Bedford RFC]], captained by former Tigers player Andy Key, and played against [[Kenya]] in [[Nairobi]] as part of the clubs [[Centenary]] Season celebrations. At the start of the 1987 season he joined Sale RFC, where he Captained the club for one season in 1992-1993 and played in the winning Courage league 1 team in 1994-1995. In 1995 when he joined [[Phil Davies]] at [[Leeds Carnegie|Leeds Tykes]] for the last three years of his rugby career playing in two promotion winning teams.


He represented the Combined Services rugby team twelve times, including three games against the very competitive Joinville Battalion of the [[French Armed Forces]]. On 29 December 1981 he played against [[Tony Shaw (rugby)|Tony Shaw]]'s [[Australia national rugby union team|Wallabies]] at [[Aldershot Military Stadium]]. Whitcombe played against [[Canada national rugby union team|Canada]] at the [[United Services Portsmouth Rugby Football Club|US Portsmouth RFC]] on 14 October on their 1983 tour on England. On 30 November 1985, [[Buck Shelford]]'s [[New Zealand Defence Force|New Zealand]] Combined Services team at [[Devonport Services R.F.C.]] and he played against Australia at [[Aldershot Military Stadium]] on 27 October 1984 against [[Andrew Slack]]'s Wallabie team.
==Representative honours==
Whitcombe was capped by [[Leicestershire]] in the [[County Championship (rugby union)|County Championship]] his first game was against [[East Midlands]] in November 1981. He was later capped by [[Yorkshire]] in 1986 and played in the 22-11 victory over [[Middlesex]] in the County Championship final at Twickenham on the 11 April 1987. He went on to make twenty one appearances for Yorkshire in the County Championship.


== Club rugby career ==
Whitcombe played for England U23 against England Students at Walsall RUFC on the 10 April 1985 after this game he was picked to represent England 'B' for their game against [[Italy national rugby union team|Italy 'B']] at Twickenham on the 17 April 1985


Whitcombe joined Leicester Tigers in July 1981. Tigers' coach [[Chalkie White (rugby player)|Chalkie White]] who was a unique, outspoken coach who demanded high levels of fitness, discipline and progressive rugby, selected him for his first game for the club against [[Northampton Saints]] away, on 16 October, he made his home début the following week against [[Swansea RFC|Swansea]] on 24 October at [[Welford Road Stadium|Welford Road]] and scored a try.
After leeving the RAF in 1987, Whitcombe accepted an opportunity to play in [[South Africa]] for [[Durban High School Old Boys]], (DHSOB). As a result [[Ian McIntosh]] the then [[Natal Province|Natal]], (now [[Natal Sharks]]), Coach picked him to play for the provincial side against the touring [[Pacific Coast]] Grizzlies, at [[Kings Park Stadium]], [[Durban]] on the 16 July 1988. The following week on the 23 July he made his [[Currie Cup]] debut against [[Transvaal Province|Transvaal]] (now the [[Golden Lions]]) in the winning Natal team at the same ground. In the Transvaal side that day was fellow Yorkshire team mate [[Peter Winterbottom]]. Along with England and [[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequin]]'s No 8 Chris Butcher (Natal) these three players represent only a handful of English players to play in the Currie cup in the [[apartheid]] era in [[South Africa]]


Martin represented Leicester Tigers against the Wallabies at Welford Road on 25 November 1981; the Australian team was Captained by [[Mark Loane]]. Whitcombe played twice against the [[Barbarian F.C.|Barbarians]] during his Leicester career and toured [[Zimbabwe]] with Tigers in 1982, playing in both games against [[Zimbabwe national rugby union team|Zimbabwe]] in [[Harare]] and [[Bulawayo]]. In 1984 he played against The [[Arabian Gulf rugby union team|Gulf]] on the Middle East tour to [[Bahrain]] & [[Dubai]] and in 1985 to France. During Tigers game against Chambérien Olympique Rugby in an era without the front row replacement system Whitcombe played most of the game with a broken [[fibula]].
Whitcombe played for the Rest v England in the Final Trial at Twickenham on the 3 January 1987 and was later selected for the [[England Saxons|England 'B']] side to play against [[France A national rugby union team|France 'B']] at Welford Road Leicester, on the 3 March 1989


Whitcombe left Leicester in 1986 to join [[Bedford RFC|Bedford]], captained by former Tigers player Andy Key, and played against [[Kenya national rugby union team|Kenya]] in [[Nairobi]] as part of the clubs Centenary Season celebrations. At the start of the 1987 season he joined [[Sale FC Rugby Club|Sale]], where he captained the club from 1992 to 1993 and was included on the Sale FC Club Honours Board in 1994. He played in the winning [[1993–94 Courage League National Division Two|Courage league 1]] team in 1993–1994. In 1996 he joined [[Phil Davies (rugby union)|Phil Davies]] at [[Leeds Carnegie|Leeds Tykes]] for the last three years of his rugby career playing in two promotion winning teams and played against [[Tonga national rugby union team|Tonga]] at [[Headingley Stadium|Headingley]] on 26 November 1997.
Together with Sale RFC & England 'B' No 8 Andy McFarlane these two players played for the Northern Division for nine years,making their debut's together against the South West Division at [[Waterloo RFC]] on the 6 December 1986. The North successfully won the Divisional Title in 1987 and 1988. Later that year on the 19 October 1988 Whitcombe played for Northern Division on the winning side against [[Nick Farr-Jones]] Australian Wallabies 21 - 9 at [[Cross Green]] [[Otley]]. Then on the 19 December 1989 against the [[USSR]] at [[Aspatria RFC]]. He played against [[Wales A national rugby union team|Wales'A']] at [[Pontypool RFC]] on the 14 October 1992, prior to playing against [[Naas Botha]]'s [[South African]] [[Springboks]] at [[Elland Road]] [[Leeds]] on the 10 November 1992. (This was the first Springbok tour after the [[Apartheid Era]].)


In an article for the rugby paper in 2012 former Sale lock Dave Baldwin named Whitcombe as loose head prop in his Sale "dream team".
With the Northern Division he toured Zimbabwe & [[Namibia]] in 1992, France in 1993 and South Africa & Namibia In 1995.


== Representative honours ==
==Genealogical information==
Whitcombe is the son of the former Rugby Union [[prop (rugby union)|prop]] for North Eastern Counties, [[Yorkshire]], Bradford RFC, and [[Keighley RUFC]], [[Frank Whitcombe Jr]], and was the grandson of the former [[Bradford Bulls|Bradford Northern]] and [[Great Britain]] [[Rugby League]] international [[Frank Whitcombe]].He is nephew to the former Bradford RFC back row forward Brian Whitcombe


Whitcombe was capped by [[Leicestershire]] in the [[County Championship (rugby union)|County Championship]] his first game was against [[East Midlands]] in November 1981. He won his first cap for [[Yorkshire Rugby Football Union|Yorkshire]], against [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]] at [[Ravenhill Stadium|Ravenhill]] in 1986 and scoring a try on his debut. Later that season he played in the 22–11 victory over [[Middlesex Rugby Football Union|Middlesex]] in the [[1986–87 Rugby Union County Championship]] final at Twickenham on 11 April 1987. He went on to make twenty one appearances for Yorkshire in the County Championship.
[[George Whitcombe]] the association (Soccer) Footballer for [[Cardiff City]], and Baseball captain for [[Wales]], and [[British baseball#Welsh Baseball Union League|Grange Albion]] is the great uncle to Martin Whitcombe.


Whitcombe played for England U23 against England Students at Walsall RUFC on 10 April 1985 after this game he was picked to represent England 'B' for their game against [[Italy national rugby union team|Italy 'B']] at Twickenham on 17 April 1985.
He is grandson to the former [[Keighley Cougars]] Rugby League scrum half Thomas Cockroft and nephew to the former Keighley Cougars winger William Cockroft.


After leaving the RAF in 1987, Whitcombe accepted an opportunity to play in South Africa for [[Durban High School]] Old Boys, (DHSOB), a club he had represented in 1984.
==Life after rugby==
Whitcombe joined National Division Three club Bradford and Bingley RFC in October 2010, where he is Director of Rugby.


DHSOB were led by former Natal hooker Don Spiers as chairman the team had some first class players including, the Blakeway brothers, Andrew & Lyle, Peter Edmonds and Greg Hamilton. As a result of Whitcombe's move to South Africa [[Ian McIntosh]] the then [[Natal Province|Natal]], (now {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}}), coach picked him to make his debut for the province along with his fellow prop Gerard Harding of Durban Harlequins and [[Empangeni]] number 8 Byron Kankowski to play for the provincial side against the touring [[Northern California Rugby Football Union|Pacific Coast Grizzly]]s at [[Kings Park Stadium]], [[Durban]] on 16 July 1988.
==See also==

*[[1981–82 Australia rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland]]
The [[1988 Currie Cup Division A|1988 Currie Cup]] was the 50th season in the [[Currie Cup]] competition since it started in 1889. On 23 July Whitcombe made his Currie Cup debut in [[1988 Currie Cup Division A|Round Nine]] at home against [[Transvaal Province|Transvaal]] (now the [[Golden Lions]]) in the winning Natal team 22–18. In the Transvaal side that day was fellow Yorkshire team mate [[Peter Winterbottom]].
*[[1984 Australia rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland]]

*[[1988-89 Australia rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; line-height:110%; font-size:100%; width:60%;"
|-
| colspan="12" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" | '''1988 Currie Cup Division A Log'''
|-
! style="width:5%;" | Pos
! style="width:35%;" | Team
! style="width:5%;" | Pl
! style="width:5%;" | W
! style="width:5%;" | D
! style="width:5%;" | L
! style="width:5%;" | PF
! style="width:5%;" | PA
! style="width:5%;" | PD
! style="width:5%;" | TF
! style="width:5%;" | TA
! style="width:5%;" | Pts
<!--
| Pos|| Team || P || W || D || L || PF || PA || PD || TF || TA || Pts
-->
|- bgcolor=#D0F0C0 align=center
| 1 || align=left | {{Rut|Northern Transvaal}} || 12 || 11 || 0 || 1 || 328 || 188 || +140 || 35 || 16 || '''22'''
|- bgcolor=#E8FFD8 align=center
| 2 || align=left | {{Rut|Western Province}} || 12 || 10 || 0 || 2 || 379 || 156 || +223 || 53 || 15 || '''20'''
|- bgcolor=#FFFFFF align=center
| 3 || align=left | {{Rut|South West Africa}} || 12 || 6 || 0 || 6 || 254 || 269 || −15 || 27 || 30 || '''12'''
|- bgcolor=#FFFFFF align=center
| 4 || align=left | {{Rut|Transvaal}} || 12 || 5 || 0 || 7 || 251 || 253 || −2 || 30 || 30 || '''10'''
|- bgcolor=#FFFFFF align=center
| 5 || align=left | {{Rut|Natal}} || 12 || 4 || 0 || 8 || 225 || 292 || −67 || 24 || 32 || '''8'''
|- bgcolor=#FFFFFF align=center
| 6 || align=left | {{Rut|Eastern Province}} || 12 || 3 || 0 || 9 || 216 || 332 || −116 || 23 || 44 || '''6'''
|- bgcolor=#FFE8E8 align=center
| 7 || align=left | {{Rut|Free State}} || 12 || 3 || 0 || 9 || 200 || 363 || −163 || 22 || 47 || '''6'''
|-
|colspan="12" style="border:0px" | <small>{{Rut|Northern Transvaal}} qualified for the Currie Cup final and {{Rut|Western Province}} qualified for the Currie Cup Semi-final.<br/>{{Rut|Free State}} qualified for the promotion/relegation play-off game.<br/><br/>* Legend: Pos = Position, Pl = Played, W = Won, D = Drawn, L = Lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TF = Tries for, TA = Tries against, Pts = Log points<br/><br/>'''Points breakdown:'''<br/>*2 points for a win<br/>*1 point for a draw</small>
|}
Along with England and [[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequin]]'s No 8 [[Chris Butcher]] (Natal) these three players represent only a handful of English players to play in the Currie Cup in the [[Apartheid]] era in South Africa. In June 1989 Whitcombe & Winterbottom were due to tour Zimbabwe with Yorkshire. Due to their breach of the [[Gleneagles Agreement]] both were declared undesirable alien's [[Persona non grata]] by [[Robert Mugabe]]'s [[ZANU PF]] government as a result the tour was cancelled.

Whitcombe played for the Rest v England in the final Trial at Twickenham on 3 January 1987 he was then selected for the [[England Saxons|England 'B']] side to play against [[France A national rugby union team|France 'B']] at Welford Road Leicester, on 3 March 1989.

==Northern Division==
Together with Sale FC & England 'B' No 8 Andy McFarlane these two players played for the Northern Division for nine years, making their débuts together against the South West Division at [[Waterloo R.F.C.]] on 6 December 1986. The North won the Divisional Title in 1986, 1987 and 1992 they were runners up to [[English Rugby Union London and SE Division|London Division]] in 1989 & 1990.

Later that year on 19 October 1988 Whitcombe played for Northern Division on the winning side against [[Nick Farr-Jones]]'s Wallabies 21–9 at [[Cross Green]] [[Otley]]. Then on 19 December 1989 against the [[Soviet Union national rugby union team|USSR]] at [[Aspatria RUFC]]. Whitcombe played against [[Namibia national rugby union team|Namibia]] in [[Windhoek]] in August 1992 as part of the preparations for the forthcoming Springbok tour of England. He played against [[Wales A national rugby union team|Wales 'A']] at [[Pontypool RFC]] on 14 October 1992, prior to playing against [[Naas Botha]]'s South African [[South Africa national rugby union team|Springboks]] at [[Elland Road]] [[Leeds]] on 10 November 1992. (This was the first Springbok tour after the [[Apartheid]] era.)

With the Northern Division Whitcombe played against [[RC Toulonnais|Toulon]] and [[US Colomiers]] in August 1993 at [[Bort-les-Orgues]] and eighteen months later against [[Blue Bulls|Northern Transvaal]] (now the [[Blue Bulls]]) at [[Loftus Versfeld Stadium|Loftus Versfeld]] and against Namibia again at the National Rugby Stadium in [[Windhoek]], in summer 1995.

With the Northern Division he toured Zimbabwe & [[Rugby union in Namibia|Namibia]] in 1992, France in 1993 and South Africa & Namibia in 1995.

== Working in Natal ==
During the 1980s, Whitcombe worked with [[Zulu people|Zulu]] civilians to rebuild infrastructure destroyed by local clashes between the [[African National Congress]] and the [[Inkatha Freedom Party]] in South Africa's black townships. On one occasion, Whitcombe witnessed a [[necklacing]] at [[KwaMashu]].

Whitcombe worked firstly in the African [[Township (South Africa)|townships]] outside Durban, at [[KwaMashu]] in the workers hostels in 'A' section and later 'L' section, and later rebuilding school security fences. Also at [[Ntuzuma]] & [[Umlazi]] and the locations at [[Imbali]] fifteen miles from [[Pietermaritzburg]] and [[Osizweni]] outside [[Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal|Newcastle]], Natal.

Whitcombe also worked in the Indian [[Township (South Africa)|townships]] at [[Chatsworth, Durban|Chatsworth]] & [[Phoenix, Durban|Phoenix]] outside Durban.

== Genealogical information ==
Whitcombe is the son of the former Rugby Union [[prop (rugby union)|prop]] for North Eastern Counties, [[Yorkshire]] and Bradford RFC, [[Frank Whitcombe Jr]] and was the grandson of the former [[Bradford Bulls|Bradford Northern]] and [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] [[Rugby league]] international [[Frank Whitcombe]]. He is nephew to the former Bradford RFC back row forward [[Brian Whitcombe]].

[[George Whitcombe]] the footballer for [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]], and [[Welsh baseball|baseball]] captain of [[Welsh Baseball Union|Wales]] is the great uncle to Martin Whitcombe.

He is grandson to the former Rugby League {{rlp|sh}} for [[Keighley Cougars|Keighley RLFC]] Thomas Cockcroft and nephew to the former Keighley RLFC {{rlp|wg}} William "Billy" Cockcroft

Martin Whitcombe is the father rugby union prop for [[England national under-20 rugby union team|England]] (Under-20s) and Leicester Tigers [[James Whitcombe]] (born {{birth date and age|2000|11|20|df=y}}).

== Life after rugby ==

Whitcombe campaigned for many years for the [[Royal Air Force]] to receive official recognition for their many losses on the Keighley town [[cenotaph]]. This was finally granted on 10 November 2011 when a stone tablet designed by local artist David Ingham was unveiled by former [[RAF Bomber Command]] [[flight engineer]] Matt Holiday [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|DFC]] with his friends Ian Walkden and Martin Whitcombe.

Whitcombe became involved with rugby again in 2006 as a rugby coach at Skipton RFC winning back to back promotions from [[Yorkshire 3]] in 2006–07 and [[Yorkshire 2]] in 2007–08, at Old Grovians RUFC the [[Yorkshire 4]] league title in 2012–13 and [[Yorkshire 3]] League title in 2014–15, and at [[Bradford & Bingley RFC]] the [[Yorkshire 1]] league title in 2015–16

In May 2016 along with co Author Bill Bridge, Whitcombe wrote 'The Indomitable Frank Whitcombe'- How a genial giant from Cardiff became a rugby League legend in Yorkshire & Australia, published by Saint David's Press

In July 2024 with co Author Huw Richards Whitcombe wrote 'The Indomitables'-The story of the 1946 Great Britain Tour to Australia and New Zealand , published by Saint David's Press

== See also ==
* [[1981–82 Australia rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland]]
* [[1983 Canada rugby union tour of England]]
* [[1984 Australia rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland]]
* [[1988 Australia rugby union tour of England, Scotland and Italy]]
* [[1992 South Africa rugby union tour of France and England]]
* [[1997 Tonga rugby union tour of Great Britain]]


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
*Farmer, Stuart & Hands, David "The Tigers Tale". The Official History of Leicester Football Club 1880-1993 ISBN 095148625X
* Farmer, Stuart & Hands, David "The Tigers Tale". The Official History of Leicester Football Club 1880–1993 {{ISBN|0-9514862-5-X}}
*McIntosh, Ian "Mac The Face Of Rugby" Don Nelson Publishers, South Africa ISBN 1-86806-190-6
* McIntosh, Ian "Mac The Face of Rugby" Don Nelson Publishers, South Africa {{ISBN|1-86806-190-6}}
* Humphrey, Egaire 1981–82 Australia Rugby Union Tour of Britain And Ireland {{ISBN|9786136693125}}
*Sweet,Reg "Natal 100 Centenary of Natal Rugby Union" ISBN 0620135689
* Sweet, Reg "Natal 100 Centenary of Natal Rugby Union" {{ISBN|0-620-13568-9}}
*Soul, David with Douglas, Derek "Heart and Sole" An Autobiography ISBN 1 85158 493 5
* Soul, David with Douglas, Derek "Heart and Sole" An Autobiography {{ISBN|1-85158-493-5}}
*Moore, Brian with Jones, Stephen " The autobiography Brian Moore" ISBN 185225 2340
*Moore, Brian "Beware of the Dog: Rugby's Hard Man Reveals All" ISBN 1847396518
* Moore, Brian with Jones, Stephen " The autobiography Brian Moore" {{ISBN|1-85225-234-0}}
*Mace, John "The History of Royal Air Force Rugby 1919 - 1999" ISBN 0-9538436-0-2
* Moore, Brian "Beware of the Dog: Rugby's Hard Man Reveals All" {{ISBN|1-84739-651-8}}
* Mace, John "The History of Royal Air Force Rugby 1919–1999" {{ISBN|0-9538436-0-2}}
* Roy, Neil & Beard, Phil "125 years of the Blues : The History of the Bedford Blues, 1886–2011"
* The Whitcombe Family Archive


==External links==
== External links ==
*{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-england-relieved-as-springboks-tour-is-given-goahead-1560307.html|title=Rugby Union: England relieved as Springboks tour is given go-ahead|work=The Independent|date=29 October 1992 |accessdate=23 July 2014}}
*http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8330683.Keighley_pay_tribute_to_stalwart_Whitcombe/?ref=rss
*{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-springboks-match-under-threat-the-south-african-rugby-codes-are-locked-in-conflict-dave-hadfield-reports-on-the-farreaching-implications-1551758.html|title=Rugby Union: Springboks' match under threat: The South African rugby codes are locked in conflict. Dave Hadfield reports on the far-reaching implications|work=The Independent|date=15 September 1992 |accessdate=23 July 2014}}
*http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/1988/07/15/16/23.html
*{{cite web|url=http://alliginphotography.co.uk/royal-navy-invitational-select-xv/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702061837/http://alliginphotography.co.uk/royal-navy-invitational-select-xv/ |archive-date=2 July 2012 |url-status=dead |title=Royal Navy RUgby Union Invitational Select XV &#124; Alligin Photography – Sleat – Isle of Skye |accessdate=23 July 2014 }}
*http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=af&u=http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/1988/07/15/16/23.html&ei=-QKCTbXmBpCZhQeeubC-BA&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFEQ7gEwCA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmartin%2Bwhitcombe%2Bnatal%2Bcurrie%2Bcup%2Bdie%2Bburger%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-gb:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7GCNV_en%26prmd%3Divnso
*{{cite web|url=http://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/index.php/features/dream-team/dreamt-team-dave-baldwin-former-sale-lock/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923072452/http://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/index.php/features/dream-team/dreamt-team-dave-baldwin-former-sale-lock/ |archive-date=23 September 2012 |url-status=dead |title=Dream Team: Dave Baldwin – former Sale lock &#124; The Rugby Paper |accessdate=23 July 2014 }}
*http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/1993/05/26/10/1.html
*{{cite web|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8330683.Keighley_pay_tribute_to_stalwart_Whitcombe/?ref=rss|title=Keighley pay tribute to stalwart Whitcombe (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)|date=13 August 2010 |publisher=thetelegraphandargus.co.uk|accessdate=23 July 2014}}
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*{{cite web|url=http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/1988/07/15/16/23.html|title=DIE BURGER LAAT,15 Julie 1988 bladsy 16:NATAL KIES NUWE VOORRY|publisher=152.111.1.87|accessdate=23 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703112518/http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/1988/07/15/16/23.html|archive-date=3 July 2011|url-status=dead}}
*http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/1988/08/06/14/7.html
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*{{cite web|url=http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/1988/08/06/14/7.html|title=DIE BURGER LAASTE,6 Augustus 1988 bladsy 14:Noorde wil sy beeld herstel|publisher=152.111.1.87|accessdate=23 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810142741/http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/1988/08/06/14/7.html|archive-date=10 August 2011|url-status=dead}}
*http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/sporting_bygones_emerging_from_the_ranks_as_yorkshire_county_rugby_enjoys_fabulous_golden_era_1_2580922
*{{cite web|url=http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/1988/07/21/19/19.html|title=DIE BURGER LAAT,21 Julie 1988 bladsy 19:Vaal kan nie gelapte Natal onderskat|publisher=152.111.1.87|accessdate=23 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322181752/http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/1988/07/21/19/19.html|archive-date=22 March 2012|url-status=dead}}
*http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/bill_bridge_interesting_few_days_for_the_beautiful_game_was_never_going_to_last_forever_1_2309400
*{{cite web|url=http://sport.iafrica.com/rugby/news/760100.html|title=iafrica.com Plumtree, Mitchell – The history|publisher=sport.iafrica.com|accessdate=23 July 2014}}
*http://www.schoolsrugby.co.uk/playerList_county.asp?Id=1&CID=12&TeamLevel=19Group
*{{cite book|title=Beware of the Dog: Rugby's Hard Man Reveals All|author=Moore, B.|date=2011|publisher=Simon & Schuster UK|isbn=9781849834896|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k1qaSscXHxIC}}
*http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bradfordandbingleyrfc/news/martin-whitcombe-takes-the-reins-at-bradford-and-bingley-189421.html
*{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/sporting_bygones_emerging_from_the_ranks_as_yorkshire_county_rugby_enjoys_fabulous_golden_era_1_2580922|title=Sporting Bygones: Emerging from the ranks as Yorkshire county rugby enjoys fabulous golden era |work= Yorkshire Post|accessdate=23 July 2014}}
*http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafsopt/
*{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/bill_bridge_interesting_few_days_for_the_beautiful_game_was_never_going_to_last_forever_1_2309400|title=Bill Bridge: Interesting few days for the 'beautiful game' was never going to last forever |work= Yorkshire Post|accessdate=23 July 2014}}
*http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafrugbyunion/history/his19801990.cfm?viewmedia=1
*{{cite web|url=http://www.schoolsrugby.co.uk/playerList_county.asp?Id=1&CID=12&TeamLevel=19Group|title=International Honours 19Group Yorkshire Schools|publisher=schoolsrugby.co.uk|accessdate=23 July 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314054020/http://www.schoolsrugby.co.uk/playerList_county.asp?Id=1&CID=12&TeamLevel=19Group|archivedate=14 March 2012|url-status=dead}}
*{{cite web|url=http://223halton.hosting.idnet.net/famous_raf.htm|title=famous_raf|publisher=223halton.hosting.idnet.net|accessdate=23 July 2014}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.pgrfc.co.uk/dave-baldwins-ultimate-xv/|title=Dave Baldwin's Ultimate XV &#124; PGRFC|date=17 January 2012 |publisher=pgrfc.co.uk|accessdate=23 July 2014}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafrugbyunion/history/his19801990.cfm?viewmedia=1|title=RAF Rugby Union – History – 1980–1990|publisher=raf.mod.uk|accessdate=23 July 2014}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/9230315.Keighley_memorial_to_RAF_heroes__will_right_wrong_of_decades_/?ref=rss|title=Keighley memorial to RAF heroes 'will right wrong of decades' (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)|date=2 September 2011 |publisher=thetelegraphandargus.co.uk|accessdate=23 July 2014}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.vcrugby.co.za/page17.php|title=Honours Roll – Varsity College RFC|publisher=vcrugby.co.za|accessdate=23 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729114727/http://www.vcrugby.co.za/page17.php|archive-date=29 July 2014|url-status=dead}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.keighley.gov.uk/cms_media/files/keighley_winter_2011_copy_2_.pdf?static=1|title=News and Events from YOUR town council Keighley|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|accessdate=23 July 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726140906/http://www.keighley.gov.uk/cms_media/files/keighley_winter_2011_copy_2_.pdf?static=1|archivedate=26 July 2014|url-status=dead}}


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{{Rugby union in South Africa}}
{{Currie cup}}
{{County rugby union in England}}

{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Whitcombe, Martin
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 14 September 1961
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Whitcombe, Martin}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Whitcombe, Martin}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Keighley]]
[[Category:20th-century Royal Air Force personnel]]
[[Category:People from Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Bedford Blues players]]
[[Category:English rugby union players]]
[[Category:Rugby union props]]
[[Category:Rugby union forwards]]
[[Category:Leicester Tigers players]]
[[Category:Bedford Blues]]
[[Category:Leeds Carnegie players]]
[[Category:Natal Sharks rugby union players]]
[[Category:Yorkshire County RFU players]]
[[Category:Northern Division rugby union players]]
[[Category:Combined Services rugby union players]]
[[Category:Combined Services rugby union players]]
[[Category:Crawshays RFC players]]
[[Category:Crawshays RFC players]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel]]
[[Category:English historians]]
[[Category:English rugby union coaches]]
[[Category:English rugby union players]]
[[Category:English sportswriters]]
[[Category:Leeds Tykes players]]
[[Category:Leicester Tigers players]]
[[Category:North of England Rugby Union team]]
[[Category:People educated at Bingley Grammar School]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force airmen]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force airmen]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force Physical Training instructors]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force Physical Training instructors]]
[[Category:Alumni of Bingley Grammar School]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force rugby union players]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Keighley]]
[[Category:Rugby union props]]
[[Category:Sale Sharks players]]
[[Category:Sharks (Currie Cup) players]]
[[Category:Yorkshire County RFU players]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Leicestershire RU players]]

Latest revision as of 12:59, 21 October 2024

Martin Whitcombe
Full nameMartin Alun Whitcombe
Date of birth (1961-09-14) 14 September 1961 (age 63)
Place of birthKeighley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1981–86 Leicester Tigers 68 (40)
1986–87 Bedford Blues 24 (20)
1987–94 Sale Sharks 151 ()
1995–98 Leeds Tykes 47 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1982–87 Combined Services 12 (0)
1981–87 Royal Air Force Rugby Union 62 (35)
1985–90 England 'B' 3
1986–95 England Northern Division 37
1986–90 Yorkshire 21
1981–85 Leicestershire 10

Martin Alun Whitcombe (born 14 September 1961 in Keighley, West Riding of Yorkshire) is an English former rugby union footballer who played in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and coached in the 2000s.

He learnt to play rugby at Keighley RUFC and had a long playing career for Leicester Tigers, Bedford RFC, Sale FC, and Leeds Tykes, at prop i.e. 1 or 3. At a representative level he played for Yorkshire, The Northern Division, and England at 19 Group, Under 23 and England 'B'.

Early life

[edit]

Martin Whitcombe was one of four children growing up in the family-run business, the Airedale Heifer Inn, a public house in Sandbeds, Keighley, which was run by his rugby-playing father Frank Whitcombe Jr. He attended Crossflatts Primary School, Ryshworth Middle School, and Bingley Grammar School, where he was capped, four times by England Schools 19 Group in the 1980 Five Nations Tournament.

After leaving school Whitcombe joined the Royal Air Force as a physical training instructor. This three-part course included PTI training at RAF Cosford, the Basic Parachute Course at No. 1 Parachute Training School and Adventurous training at Llanrwst in North Wales. After passing out with the rank of corporal, Whitcombe was posted to RAF North Luffenham in Edith Weston and living in the market town of Uppingham. This enabled Martin to accept an earlier invitation to join Leicester Tigers.

Royal Air Force and Combined Services Rugby

[edit]

While in the RAF Whitcombe won the first of his fourteen caps as an Aircraftman while still under training at RAF Cosford, against the Royal Navy on 28 February 1981 in the Inter Services Tournament at Twickenham & his second cap a week later against the Army.

In July 1981 Whitcombe visited the United States with the RAF rugby team, staying at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Texas the Royal Air Force team won the Austin Rugby Tournament defeating Houston in the final. Here Whitcombe played in the front five with two outstanding Royal Air Force forwards Peter Larter & John Orwin.

During his seven years of service, Whitcombe was part of the Royal Air Force team which went on to enjoy a golden era in the 1980s winning a hat-trick of Inter Service titles: in 1982 (for only the fourth time since 1945), then in 1985, and 1986. (The 1984 title was a triple tie.)

He represented the Combined Services rugby team twelve times, including three games against the very competitive Joinville Battalion of the French Armed Forces. On 29 December 1981 he played against Tony Shaw's Wallabies at Aldershot Military Stadium. Whitcombe played against Canada at the US Portsmouth RFC on 14 October on their 1983 tour on England. On 30 November 1985, Buck Shelford's New Zealand Combined Services team at Devonport Services R.F.C. and he played against Australia at Aldershot Military Stadium on 27 October 1984 against Andrew Slack's Wallabie team.

Club rugby career

[edit]

Whitcombe joined Leicester Tigers in July 1981. Tigers' coach Chalkie White who was a unique, outspoken coach who demanded high levels of fitness, discipline and progressive rugby, selected him for his first game for the club against Northampton Saints away, on 16 October, he made his home début the following week against Swansea on 24 October at Welford Road and scored a try.

Martin represented Leicester Tigers against the Wallabies at Welford Road on 25 November 1981; the Australian team was Captained by Mark Loane. Whitcombe played twice against the Barbarians during his Leicester career and toured Zimbabwe with Tigers in 1982, playing in both games against Zimbabwe in Harare and Bulawayo. In 1984 he played against The Gulf on the Middle East tour to Bahrain & Dubai and in 1985 to France. During Tigers game against Chambérien Olympique Rugby in an era without the front row replacement system Whitcombe played most of the game with a broken fibula.

Whitcombe left Leicester in 1986 to join Bedford, captained by former Tigers player Andy Key, and played against Kenya in Nairobi as part of the clubs Centenary Season celebrations. At the start of the 1987 season he joined Sale, where he captained the club from 1992 to 1993 and was included on the Sale FC Club Honours Board in 1994. He played in the winning Courage league 1 team in 1993–1994. In 1996 he joined Phil Davies at Leeds Tykes for the last three years of his rugby career playing in two promotion winning teams and played against Tonga at Headingley on 26 November 1997.

In an article for the rugby paper in 2012 former Sale lock Dave Baldwin named Whitcombe as loose head prop in his Sale "dream team".

Representative honours

[edit]

Whitcombe was capped by Leicestershire in the County Championship his first game was against East Midlands in November 1981. He won his first cap for Yorkshire, against Ulster at Ravenhill in 1986 and scoring a try on his debut. Later that season he played in the 22–11 victory over Middlesex in the 1986–87 Rugby Union County Championship final at Twickenham on 11 April 1987. He went on to make twenty one appearances for Yorkshire in the County Championship.

Whitcombe played for England U23 against England Students at Walsall RUFC on 10 April 1985 after this game he was picked to represent England 'B' for their game against Italy 'B' at Twickenham on 17 April 1985.

After leaving the RAF in 1987, Whitcombe accepted an opportunity to play in South Africa for Durban High School Old Boys, (DHSOB), a club he had represented in 1984.

DHSOB were led by former Natal hooker Don Spiers as chairman the team had some first class players including, the Blakeway brothers, Andrew & Lyle, Peter Edmonds and Greg Hamilton. As a result of Whitcombe's move to South Africa Ian McIntosh the then Natal, (now Sharks), coach picked him to make his debut for the province along with his fellow prop Gerard Harding of Durban Harlequins and Empangeni number 8 Byron Kankowski to play for the provincial side against the touring Pacific Coast Grizzlys at Kings Park Stadium, Durban on 16 July 1988.

The 1988 Currie Cup was the 50th season in the Currie Cup competition since it started in 1889. On 23 July Whitcombe made his Currie Cup debut in Round Nine at home against Transvaal (now the Golden Lions) in the winning Natal team 22–18. In the Transvaal side that day was fellow Yorkshire team mate Peter Winterbottom.

1988 Currie Cup Division A Log
Pos Team Pl W D L PF PA PD TF TA Pts
1 Northern Transvaal 12 11 0 1 328 188 +140 35 16 22
2 Western Province 12 10 0 2 379 156 +223 53 15 20
3 South West Africa 12 6 0 6 254 269 −15 27 30 12
4 Transvaal 12 5 0 7 251 253 −2 30 30 10
5 Natal 12 4 0 8 225 292 −67 24 32 8
6 Eastern Province 12 3 0 9 216 332 −116 23 44 6
7 Free State 12 3 0 9 200 363 −163 22 47 6
Northern Transvaal qualified for the Currie Cup final and Western Province qualified for the Currie Cup Semi-final.
Free State qualified for the promotion/relegation play-off game.

* Legend: Pos = Position, Pl = Played, W = Won, D = Drawn, L = Lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TF = Tries for, TA = Tries against, Pts = Log points

Points breakdown:
*2 points for a win
*1 point for a draw

Along with England and Harlequin's No 8 Chris Butcher (Natal) these three players represent only a handful of English players to play in the Currie Cup in the Apartheid era in South Africa. In June 1989 Whitcombe & Winterbottom were due to tour Zimbabwe with Yorkshire. Due to their breach of the Gleneagles Agreement both were declared undesirable alien's Persona non grata by Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF government as a result the tour was cancelled.

Whitcombe played for the Rest v England in the final Trial at Twickenham on 3 January 1987 he was then selected for the England 'B' side to play against France 'B' at Welford Road Leicester, on 3 March 1989.

Northern Division

[edit]

Together with Sale FC & England 'B' No 8 Andy McFarlane these two players played for the Northern Division for nine years, making their débuts together against the South West Division at Waterloo R.F.C. on 6 December 1986. The North won the Divisional Title in 1986, 1987 and 1992 they were runners up to London Division in 1989 & 1990.

Later that year on 19 October 1988 Whitcombe played for Northern Division on the winning side against Nick Farr-Jones's Wallabies 21–9 at Cross Green Otley. Then on 19 December 1989 against the USSR at Aspatria RUFC. Whitcombe played against Namibia in Windhoek in August 1992 as part of the preparations for the forthcoming Springbok tour of England. He played against Wales 'A' at Pontypool RFC on 14 October 1992, prior to playing against Naas Botha's South African Springboks at Elland Road Leeds on 10 November 1992. (This was the first Springbok tour after the Apartheid era.)

With the Northern Division Whitcombe played against Toulon and US Colomiers in August 1993 at Bort-les-Orgues and eighteen months later against Northern Transvaal (now the Blue Bulls) at Loftus Versfeld and against Namibia again at the National Rugby Stadium in Windhoek, in summer 1995.

With the Northern Division he toured Zimbabwe & Namibia in 1992, France in 1993 and South Africa & Namibia in 1995.

Working in Natal

[edit]

During the 1980s, Whitcombe worked with Zulu civilians to rebuild infrastructure destroyed by local clashes between the African National Congress and the Inkatha Freedom Party in South Africa's black townships. On one occasion, Whitcombe witnessed a necklacing at KwaMashu.

Whitcombe worked firstly in the African townships outside Durban, at KwaMashu in the workers hostels in 'A' section and later 'L' section, and later rebuilding school security fences. Also at Ntuzuma & Umlazi and the locations at Imbali fifteen miles from Pietermaritzburg and Osizweni outside Newcastle, Natal.

Whitcombe also worked in the Indian townships at Chatsworth & Phoenix outside Durban.

Genealogical information

[edit]

Whitcombe is the son of the former Rugby Union prop for North Eastern Counties, Yorkshire and Bradford RFC, Frank Whitcombe Jr and was the grandson of the former Bradford Northern and Great Britain Rugby league international Frank Whitcombe. He is nephew to the former Bradford RFC back row forward Brian Whitcombe.

George Whitcombe the footballer for Cardiff City, and baseball captain of Wales is the great uncle to Martin Whitcombe.

He is grandson to the former Rugby League scrum-half for Keighley RLFC Thomas Cockcroft and nephew to the former Keighley RLFC wing William "Billy" Cockcroft

Martin Whitcombe is the father rugby union prop for England (Under-20s) and Leicester Tigers James Whitcombe (born (2000-11-20) 20 November 2000 (age 24)).

Life after rugby

[edit]

Whitcombe campaigned for many years for the Royal Air Force to receive official recognition for their many losses on the Keighley town cenotaph. This was finally granted on 10 November 2011 when a stone tablet designed by local artist David Ingham was unveiled by former RAF Bomber Command flight engineer Matt Holiday DFC with his friends Ian Walkden and Martin Whitcombe.

Whitcombe became involved with rugby again in 2006 as a rugby coach at Skipton RFC winning back to back promotions from Yorkshire 3 in 2006–07 and Yorkshire 2 in 2007–08, at Old Grovians RUFC the Yorkshire 4 league title in 2012–13 and Yorkshire 3 League title in 2014–15, and at Bradford & Bingley RFC the Yorkshire 1 league title in 2015–16

In May 2016 along with co Author Bill Bridge, Whitcombe wrote 'The Indomitable Frank Whitcombe'- How a genial giant from Cardiff became a rugby League legend in Yorkshire & Australia, published by Saint David's Press

In July 2024 with co Author Huw Richards Whitcombe wrote 'The Indomitables'-The story of the 1946 Great Britain Tour to Australia and New Zealand , published by Saint David's Press

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  • Farmer, Stuart & Hands, David "The Tigers Tale". The Official History of Leicester Football Club 1880–1993 ISBN 0-9514862-5-X
  • McIntosh, Ian "Mac The Face of Rugby" Don Nelson Publishers, South Africa ISBN 1-86806-190-6
  • Humphrey, Egaire 1981–82 Australia Rugby Union Tour of Britain And Ireland ISBN 9786136693125
  • Sweet, Reg "Natal 100 Centenary of Natal Rugby Union" ISBN 0-620-13568-9
  • Soul, David with Douglas, Derek "Heart and Sole" An Autobiography ISBN 1-85158-493-5
  • Moore, Brian with Jones, Stephen " The autobiography Brian Moore" ISBN 1-85225-234-0
  • Moore, Brian "Beware of the Dog: Rugby's Hard Man Reveals All" ISBN 1-84739-651-8
  • Mace, John "The History of Royal Air Force Rugby 1919–1999" ISBN 0-9538436-0-2
  • Roy, Neil & Beard, Phil "125 years of the Blues : The History of the Bedford Blues, 1886–2011"
  • The Whitcombe Family Archive
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