Phil Horrocks-Taylor

{{Short description|British Lions & England international rugby union player (1934–2021)}} {{Use British English|date= June 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date= June 2016}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Phil Horrocks-Taylor | image = | caption = | birth_name = John Philip Horrocks-Taylor | birth_date = {{birth date|1934|10|27|df=y}} | birth_place = Halifax, England | death_date = {{death date and age|2021|02|11|1934|10|27|df=y}} | death_place = Middlesbrough, England | height = {{convert|1.83|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lionsrugby.com/history/players.php?player=16351&includeref=dynamic#.V8REKKJ2Xww|title=Phil Horrocks-Taylor|work=Lions Official|accessdate=29 August 2016}}</ref> | weight = {{convert|86|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} | occupation = Engineer | position = Fly Half | repyears1 = 1955–1966 | repteam1 = Yorkshire | repcaps1 = 57 | reppoints1 = | repyears2 = 1958–1964 | repteam2 = {{nrut|England}} | repcaps2 = 9 | reppoints2 = 3 | repyears3 = 1959 | repteam3 = Lions | repcaps3 = 1 | reppoints3 = 0 | years1 = 1956–1957 | clubs1 = Cambridge University | apps1 = | points1 = | years2 = 1958–1963 | clubs2 = Leicester Tigers | points2 = | apps2 = 92 | years3 = 1963–1969 | clubs3 = Middlesbrough | apps3 = | points3 = }}

'''John Philip Horrocks-Taylor''' (27 October 1934 – 11 February 2021<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/england/rugby/player/6214.html|title=Phil Horrocks-Taylor|work=ESPN Scrum|accessdate=29 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.leicestertigers.com/news/obituary-former-fly-half-phil-horrocks-taylor|publisher=Leicester Tigers |title=Obituary - Former fly-half Phil Horrocks-Taylor| date=11 February 2021| access-date=11 February 2021}}</ref>) was a rugby union fly half who played for Leicester Tigers between 1958 and 1963; he represented England 9 times between 1958 and 1964 and was selected for the 1959 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand where he played in the third test. He was a Cambridge University blue in Rugby for 1956 and 1957.

==Career== Horrocks-Taylor came up to St John's College, Cambridge in 1955 after playing in his native Yorkshire for Halifax and completing his national service at Catterick.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://curufc.com/news-4966-Tribute_to_Phil_Horrocks_Taylor_who_has_died_at_the_age_of_86.aspx|work=CURUFC|title=Tribute to Phil Horrocks-Taylor, who has died at the age of 86|date=12 February 2021}}</ref>

Horrocks-Taylor joined Leicester in 1958, making his debut on 27 September against Harlequins at Twickenham, Horrocks-Taylor was described as a "brilliant half-back, who is the most talked young player about in rugger circles".<ref>{{cite news|work= Leicester Evening Mail |date=23 September 1958 | page=12 | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003330/19580923/155/0012|url-access=limited|title=A big day for Tigers at Twickenham - Horrocks-Taylor is at fly half|author=Terry McNeill}}</ref>

Horrocks-Taylor left Leicester in September 1963 after receiving a job offer in Middlesbrough that was "too good to turn down",<ref>{{cite news|work=Leicester Evening Mail|date=9 September 1963|page=8|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003330/19630909/168/0008|url-access=limited|title=Horrocks-Taylor going north|author=Terry McNeill}}</ref> and joined the local club, in the 1964 Five Nations Championship he played his final two matches for {{nrut|England}} and became the first current Middlesbrough RUFC player to represent England.

He also played for Wasps and Halifax.

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Horrocks-Taylor, Phil}} Category:1934 births Category:2021 deaths Category:English rugby union players Category:England international rugby union players Category:Leicester Tigers players Category:Rugby union fly-halves Category:Cambridge University R.U.F.C. players Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from England Category:Yorkshire County RFU players Category:Place of death missing Category:Rugby union players from Halifax, West Yorkshire Category:Middlesbrough RFC players Category:Alumni of St John's College, Cambridge Category:20th-century English sportsmen