{{short description|England international rugby union footballer}} {{for|the lawyer and jurist from Virginia|Philip N. Nicholas}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}} {{Use British English|date=November 2017}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Philip Nicholas | image = | caption = | birth_name = Philip Leach Nicholas | birth_date = {{Birth date|1876|5|30|df=y}} | birth_place = Monmouth, Wales | death_date = {{Death date and age|1952|1|31|1876|5|30|df=yes}} | death_place = Barnstaple, England | height = | weight = | position = wing | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = Monmouth RFC | amatteam2 = Oxford University RFC | amatteam3 = Exeter RFC | amatteam4 = Barbarian F.C. | amatteam5 = Devon
| ru_amclubcaps = | ru_amclubpoints = | ru_amupdate = | repteam1 = England | repyears1 = 1902 | repcaps1 = 1 | reppoints1 = 0 | ru_ntupdate = | coachteams1 = | coachyears1 = | ru_coachupdate = | occupation = Clergyman | school = Monmouth School | university = Oxford University }}
'''Philip Leach Nicholas''' (30 May 1876 – 31 January 1952)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/england/rugby/player/1497.html|title=Philip Nicholas player profile|publisher=Scrum.com|access-date=2 June 2012|archive-date=7 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707080637/http://www.espnscrum.com/england/rugby/player/1497.html|url-status=live}}</ref> was an international rugby union wing who played club rugby for Oxford University and Exeter. Nicolas played one international rugby game for England in 1902.
==Personal history== Philip Nicholas was born in Monmouth in 1876,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www2.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?scan=1&r=57822857&d=bmd_1337066013|title=Index entry|access-date=2 June 2012|work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS}}</ref> the son of Thomas Leach Nicholas, a proprietor of a small chemical works, and his wife Julia Elizabeth.<ref>According to the 1881 Census</ref> He was educated locally at Monmouth School before matriculating to Oxford University. After leaving university he became a clergyman and he was ordained in 1908. He moved to Devon where he was married to Annie Margaret. Nicolas died in 1952 and was buried at St. John the Baptist's Church Cemetery in Bishop's Tawton, Devon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gravestonephotos.com/public/gravedetails.php?available=yes&fullname=Philip%20Leach%20Nicholas&grave=83237|title=Philip Leach Nicholas grave monument details|publisher=gravestonephotos.com|access-date=2 June 2012|archive-date=1 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201020243/http://www.gravestonephotos.com/public/gravedetails.php?available=yes&fullname=Philip%20Leach%20Nicholas&grave=83237|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Rugby career== Nicholas played rugby from a young age representing Monmouth School and Monmouth. When he went to Oxford University, he was selected to play for the university team and won three successive sporting Blues by playing in the Varsity Matches of 1897, 1898 and 1899. On leaving Oxford he moved to Devon and there he joined Exeter RFC and was also selected to represent Devon at county level. During his time with Devon, the county won the County Championship of 1900–01, which was also the season he represented the Rest of England.<ref>Maule (1992) p.115</ref>
In 1902, while an Exeter player, Nicolas was selected for his one and only international cap for England. He was called into the team at wing for the opening game of the 1902 Home Nations Championship, played at the Rectory Field in Blackheath against Wales, his home country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/match/19046.html|title=Home Nations - Blackheath, 11 January 1902: England (8) 8 - 9 (3) Wales (FT)|publisher=scrum.com|access-date=2 June 2012|archive-date=2 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202180406/http://www.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/match/19046.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Wales won by a narrow 9–8 scoreline, and in the next game of the season Nicholas was not selected, his short international career was over.
===International caps=== '''England''' *Wales 1902
==References== {{reflist}}
==Bibliography== * {{cite book |last=Marshall |first=Howard |author2=Jordon, J.P. |title=Oxford v Cambridge, The Story of the University Rugby Match |year=1951 |publisher=Clerke & Cockeran|location=London }} * {{cite book |last=Maule |first=Raymond |title=The Complete Who's Who of England Rugby Union Internationals |year=1992 |publisher=Breedon Books |location=Derby |isbn=1-873626-10-X}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nicholas, Philip}} Category:1876 births Category:1952 deaths Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford Category:Barbarian F.C. players Category:England international rugby union players Category:Exeter Chiefs players Category:Oxford University RFC players Category:People educated at Monmouth School for Boys Category:Rugby union players from Monmouth, Wales Category:Rugby union wings Category:Welsh rugby union players Category:Devon RFU players