{{Short description|England international rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Prince <br>Alexander Obolensky | image =Prince Alexander S. Obolensky.jpg | image_size = 150 | caption = Obolensky scored on his England winning debut over New Zealand in January 1936 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1916|2|17|df=y}} | birth_place = Petrograd, Russian Empire | death_date = {{Death date and age|1940|03|29|1916|2|17|df=y}} | death_place = RAF Martlesham Heath, Suffolk, UK | death_cause = Aircrash | resting_place = Ipswich New Cemetery, Suffolk | resting_place_coordinates = | other_names = | known_for = International rugby footballer | education = Brasenose College, Oxford | employer = | occupation = RAF officer | title = HSH Prince | height = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | party = | boards = | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = Prince Serge Obolensky<br />Princess Lubov' Naryshkina | relatives = Obolensky family | signature = | website = | footnotes = | module = {{Infobox rugby biography | embed = yes | position = Wing | years1 = 1934 | clubs1 = Nottingham | apps1 = 3 | points1 = 3 | years2 = 1934–1940 | clubs2 = Rosslyn Park | apps2 = 24 | points2 = 63 | years3 = 1934–1937 | clubs3 = Oxford University | apps3 = 44 | points3 = 87 | years4 = 1934–1939 | clubs4 = Leicester Tigers | apps4 = 17 | points4 = 36 | years5 = 1937–1939 | clubs5 = Barbarians | apps5 = 7 | points5 = 9 | repyears1 = 1934 | repteam1 = Notts, Lincs & Derbys | repcaps1 = 3 | reppoints1 = 3 | repyears2 = 1936 | repteam2 = {{nrut|England}} | repcaps2 = 4 | reppoints2 = 6 | repyears3 = 1936 | repteam3 = British Lions XV | repcaps3 = 6 | reppoints3 = 36 | repyears4 = 1940 | repteam4 = England XV (War time) | repcaps4 = 1 | reppoints4 = 0 }} }} [[File:Repnin coat.jpg|thumb|170px|{{center|Obolensky coat of arms}}]] Prince '''Alexander Sergeevich Obolensky''' ({{langx|ru|Александр Серге́евич Оболенский}}; 17 February 1916 – 29 March 1940) was a Rurikid prince of Russian aristocratic descent who became a naturalised Briton,<ref>[https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/68686 www.iwm.org.uk]</ref> having spent most of his life in England, and who went on to represent England in international rugby union. He was, and remains, popularly known as "The Flying Prince", "The Flying Slav", or simply as "Obo" to many sports fans.
==Biography== A member of the Rurik dynasty, Obolensky was born at Petrograd (''now'' Saint Petersburg) on 17 February 1916, the son of Prince Sergei Alexandrovich Obolensky, an officer in the Tsar's Imperial Horse Guards and his wife Princess Lyubov Obolenskaya (''née'' Naryshkina).<ref>[https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw71066/Princess-Lubov-Petrovna-Troubetzkoy-Obolensky?LinkID=mp55456&role=sit&rNo=1 www.npg.org.uk]</ref> The family name derives from the ancient Russian city of Obolensk; they fled Russia after the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 and settled in Muswell Hill, London.
Obolensky was educated at The Ashe Boys' Preparatory School, Etwall and Trent College, Long Eaton, both in Derbyshire, before going up to Brasenose College, Oxford in Michaelmas 1934, where he held a college exhibition and read Politics, Philosophy and Economics; he graduated with a Fourth Class degree (BA (Oxon)) in 1938. He was also appointed a Knight of St John in 1938.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://orthodoxorderofsaintjohn.org/ |title=www.orthodoxorderofsaintjohn.org |access-date=13 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313131337/http://orthodoxorderofsaintjohn.org/ |archive-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
At Oxford he won two rugby blues representing Oxford University RFC as a wing/three-quarter. Having previously played for Chesterfield RFC whilst still at school, he played for Leicester Tigers between 1934 and 1939, as well as Rosslyn Park FC; his selection for England caused a stir because he was not a British subject, although he was naturalised British in March 1936.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34272|page=2276|date=7 April 1936}}</ref>
On 4 January 1936. Obolensky scored two tries on his England debut in a 13–0 victory over the All Blacks, the first time England had beaten New Zealand. Aided by Pathé News footage of the game, his name has entered into legend, since the first try, beating several All Blacks in a run of three-quarters of the length of the field, was widely regarded as the greatest try of the time, and one of the greatest tries ever scored by England.<ref>Green Umbrella Productions: ''101 Greatest English Tries.'' DVD, Release Date: 8 November 2004.</ref>
Prince Obolensky won three England caps later that year (against Wales on 18 January, Ireland on 8 February and Scotland on 21 March), but scored no further tries. He was selected as a member of the touring party for the 1936 British Lions tour to Argentina. He also played seven games for the "invitation only" Barbarian F.C. between 1937 and 1939, scoring three tries.
On 12 August 1939, Obolensky was commissioned as an Acting Pilot Officer in 615 Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF)),<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34679|page=6196|date=12 September 1939}}</ref> being stationed at RAF Kenley and at the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, he joined RAF 504 Squadron.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34679|page=6195|date=12 September 1939}}</ref>
===Death=== On 29 March 1940, a day after being recalled to the England squad to play Wales,<ref name=BBC/> Pilot Officer Obolensky was killed during training when his Hawker Hurricane Mark 1 overshot the runway at Martlesham Heath Airfield, Suffolk.<ref>[https://www.mhas.org.uk/home/SearchForm?Search=SearchAlexander+Obolensky&action_results=Go Search: Alexander Obolensky] www.mhas.org.uk, accessed 2024-12-21</ref> His aircraft, reference number L1946, dropped into a dip at the end of the runway during landing, breaking his neck. Aged 24,<ref>{{cite news |title=Prince Obolensky, 24, Killed in Air Crash. British Flier Was Also an Outstanding Rugby Back. |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0B11FF3E54117A93C2AA1788D85F448485F9 |work=Wireless To The New York Times |date=30 March 1940 }}</ref> Obolensky was buried at Ipswich New Cemetery.<ref>[https://www.cwgc.org/visit-us/find-cemeteries-memorials/cemetery-details/5001732/ipswich-new-cemetery/ Ipswich New Cemetery] www.cwgc.org, accessed 2024-12-21</ref>
[[File:Ierus a7.jpg|thumb|right|210px|Russian Order of St John insignia]]
==Legacy== *The "Obolensky Lecture" is given annually on the subject of rugby football, and at Twickenham there is a suite named ''Obolensky's'' in his honour.<ref name=BBC/> *In February 2008 a project was launched in Ipswich to erect a permanent memorial, resulting in a £50,000 statue being unveiled on 18 February 2009<ref name=BBC>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/suffolk/7813726.stm Statue for rugby's Russian prince] BBC News, 8 January 2009</ref> by his niece, Princess Alexandra Obolensky;<ref name=BBC2>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/suffolk/7896298.stm Rugby hero pilot statue unveiled] BBC News, 18 February 2009</ref> the statue by Harry Gray stands on Cromwell Square in the town.<ref>[http://www.obolensky-ipswich.org.uk/project.html Obolensky Memorial Project] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119220231/http://www.obolensky-ipswich.org.uk/project.html |date=19 November 2008 }}</ref> *A building is named in his memory at his former school, Trent College. *The "Prince Obolensky Award" is presented annually by the Prince Obolensky Association at Rosslyn Park F.C.<ref>[https://rosslynpark.co.uk/facility/clubhouse-and-bar/ www.rosslynpark.co.uk]</ref>
==See also== *Russian nobility *List of England rugby union footballers killed in the World Wars *Twickenham Stadium [[File:England Rugby Legend Prince Alexander Obolensky - geograph.org.uk - 1181194.jpg|thumb|180px|Statue of Prince Obolensky on Cromwell Square, Ipswich]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090218043601/http://www.obolensky-ipswich.org.uk/ Obolensky Ipswich] *[http://rusemb.org.uk/press/14 Russian Embassy press release re Ipswich Obolensky Memorial] *[http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2720713 Alexander Obolensky] at Commonwealth War Graves Commission *{{Find a Grave|8908729}} *{{YouTube|WfkX_mYqeOs|Montage of England rugby tries}}; Prince Obolensky's two tries are featured first. *[https://photo-sleuth.blogspot.com/2008/02/ashe-school-cricket-xi-ashe-house.html Photograph of Obolensky age about 13 at his preparatory school, and article about its discovery] *[http://www.trentcollege.net Trent College] *[http://www.obolensky.org The Prince Obolensky Association at Rosslyn Park RFC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610210832/http://www.obolensky.org/ |date=10 June 2015 }} *[http://www.englandrugby.com/twickenham/ England RFU website]
{{Royal Air Force}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Obolensky, Alexander (prince)}} Category:1916 births Category:1940 deaths Alexander Category:People educated at Trent College Category:Alumni of Brasenose College, Oxford Category:Oxford University RFC players Category:Royal Air Force personnel killed in World War II Category:England international rugby union players Category:English rugby union players Category:Russian rugby union players Category:Leicester Tigers players Category:Rosslyn Park F.C. players Category:Emigrants from the Russian Empire to the United Kingdom Category:Royal Air Force pilots of World War II Category:Royal Air Force officers Category:Rugby union wings Category:Knights of the Order of St John Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from England Category:Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in England Category:Burials in Suffolk Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1940 Category:20th-century English sportsmen