{{Short description|England international dual-code rugby footballer}} {{Use British English|date=August 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |first = RU |name = Anthony Starks |fullname = Anthony Starks |nickname = |image = Anthony Starks - Hull Kingston Rovers.jpeg |imagesize = 192 |caption = |birth_date = 11 August 1873 |birth_place = Castleford, England |death_date = January 1952 (aged 78) |death_place = Hull, England |height = |weight = |ru_position = Forward |position = Forwards |ru_club1 = Castleford RUFC |ru_year1start = ≤1895 |ru_year1end = ≥96 |ru_appearances1 = |ru_tries1 = |ru_goals1 = |ru_fieldgoals1 = |ru_points1 = |club1 = {{nowrap|Hull Kingston Rovers}} |year1start = ≤1904 |year1end = ≥04 |appearances1 = 223 |tries1 = 34 |goals1 = 72 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 246 |ru_teamA = Yorkshire |ru_yearAstart = ≤1895 |ru_yearAend = ≥96 |ru_appearancesA = |ru_triesA = |ru_goalsA = |ru_fieldgoalsA = |ru_pointsA = |ru_teamB = England |ru_yearBstart = 1896 |ru_yearBend = |ru_appearancesB = 2 |ru_triesB = 0 |ru_goalsB = 0 |ru_fieldgoalsB = 0 |ru_pointsB = 0 |teamA = Yorkshire |yearAstart = 1897/98 |yearAend = 98/99 |appearancesA = ≥1 |triesA = |goalsA = |fieldgoalsA = |pointsA = |teamB = England |yearBstart = 1904 |yearBend = |appearancesB = 1 |triesB = 0 |goalsB = 0 |fieldgoalsB = 0 |pointsB = 0 |new = yes |retired = yes |updated = 15 June 2012 |source = <ref name="Statistics at en.espn.co.uk (RU)">{{cite web |url=http://en.espn.co.uk/england/rugby/player/1170.html|title= Statistics at en.espn.co.uk (RU)|publisher=en.espn.co.uk |date= 31 December 2017 |accessdate=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/a-starks/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Rugby league records |id=10401 |title=Anthony Starks |access-date=17 August 2025}}</ref> }}
'''Anthony Starks''' (11 August 1873 – January 1952) was an English dual-code international rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1890s and 1900s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Castleford RUFC,<ref name="Castleford RUFC at pitchero.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/castlefordrugbyunion|title=Castleford RUFC at pitchero.com|publisher=pitchero.com|date=31 December 2018|accessdate=1 January 2019}}</ref> as a forward, and representative level rugby league (RL) for England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Hull Kingston Rovers (captain), as a forward.<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)"/> England's Anthony Starks, and Wales' Jack Rhapps took the field in the inaugural rugby league international of Tuesday 5 April 1904 between England and Other Nationalities. Starks had made two rugby union Test appearances for England in 1896, and Rhapps had made a single rugby union Test appearance for Wales in 1897, and thus in April 1904 they became the world's first dual-code rugby internationals.
==Background== Anthony Starks' birth was registered in Castleford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, and his death aged 78 was registered in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England.
==Playing career==
===International honours=== Anthony Starks won caps for England (RU) while at Castleford in the 25–0 victory over Wales at Rectory Field, Blackheath on 4 January 1896, and the 4–10 defeat by Ireland at Meanwood Road, Leeds on 1 February 1896,<ref name="Statistics at en.espn.co.uk (RU)"/> and won a cap playing as a forward (in an experimental 12-a-side team), and was captain for England (RL) while at Hull Kingston Rovers in the 3–9 defeat by Other Nationalities at Central Park, Wigan on Tuesday 5 April 1904, in the first ever international rugby league match.<ref name="The First International Rugby League Match">{{cite web|first=Sean|last=Fagan|url=http://www.rl1895.com/1904.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040401171622/http://www.rl1895.com/1904.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=1 April 2004|title=The First International Rugby League Match|publisher=rl1895.com|access-date=14 December 2014}}</ref>
===County honours=== Anthony Starks won caps for Yorkshire (RU) while at Castleford in 1895–96.<ref name="Honours at castlefordrufc.org">{{cite web|url=http://castlefordrufc.org/index_files/Page549.htm |title=Honours at castlefordrufc.org |publisher=castlefordrufc.org |date=31 December 2011 |accessdate=1 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813055006/http://castlefordrufc.org/index_files/Page549.htm |archivedate=13 August 2011}}</ref> and he won caps for Yorkshire (RL) while at Hull Kingston Rovers.
===Challenge Cup Final appearances=== Anthony Starks played as a forward in Hull Kingston Rovers' 0–6 defeat by Warrington in the 1905 Challenge Cup Final during the 1904–05 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 29 April 1905, in front of a crowd of 19,638.<ref name="History of Rugby League – № 9 – 1904–05">Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 9 – 1904–05". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Starks, Anthony}} Category:1873 births Category:1952 deaths Category:Castleford R.U.F.C. players Category:Dual-code rugby internationals Category:England international rugby union players Category:England national rugby league team captains Category:England national rugby league team players Category:English rugby league players Category:English rugby union players Category:Hull Kingston Rovers captains Category:Hull Kingston Rovers players Category:Rugby league forwards Category:Rugby league players from Castleford Category:Rugby union forwards Category:Rugby union players from Castleford Category:Yorkshire County RFU players Category:Yorkshire rugby league team players