We have now seen sports activities folks generally known as “Kings” or “Princes” for his or her feats in extraordinary careers, however we not often see authenticity within the title; a Prince who performs worldwide rugby.
Prince Alexander Sergeevich Obolensky is one such participant who had a short however spectacular time enjoying for the English rugby group.
The Prince epitomised the saying “that we’re solely right here for a short while” within the 4 internationals he performed for England and the temporary life he led.
Whereas his Assessments are few in quantity, his deeds are remembered by rugby followers across the globe in a fabled profession.
In 1936 his two tries enabled England to defeat the All Blacks at Twickenham for the primary time in a notable debut for the “Flying Prince.”
There are differing studies as to which of the 2 tries is the higher.
The primary is a traditional winger’s attempt, searing velocity takes him round his opposing participant in an excellent run from midway.
The second attempt jogged my memory of David Campese’s attempt within the 1991 Rugby World Cup in a diagonal burst that made the defence look hapless.
His first attempt has been labelled as one of many most interesting tries scored by an English participant. Hints of the good English winger David Duckham are recalled with the Princes’ flying blond hair, tempo and uncommon capacity.
At Trent School the place he attended, it was recorded that he ran the 100 metres on grass within the extraordinary time of 10.2 seconds.
Prince Obolensky was born in 1916 in Petrograd within the Russian Empire to his dad and mom Prince Serge Obolensky and Princess Lubov Naryshkina. The household title originates from the traditional metropolis of Obolensk.
The Prince left Russia for England as a child together with his aristocratic household after the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917.
He found rugby union in school on the age of fifteen and joined the Chesterfield Rugby Soccer Membership and made appearances for Leicester Tigers and Rosslyn Park.
Obolensky attended the constituent Brasenose School of Oxford College the place he gained a Blue, which is the very best honour given to particular person sportspeople.
He got here beneath public scrutiny on the historic Oxford vs Cambridge rugby match the place his tempo and defence impressed viewers.
Fame was simply across the nook when the Prince was controversially chosen for England versus the All Blacks in entrance of 72,000 spectators at Twickenham.
I collect he was a resident of Britain reasonably than a citizen. His two tries created a legend within the English rugby neighborhood.
He did go tryless in his subsequent three internationals in opposition to Wales, Eire and Scotland. Choice for the British Lions tour of Argentina adopted, the place there doesn’t look like a document of him enjoying within the “Check” in opposition to Argentina.
There isn’t any shock that he was invited to the Barbarians FC 1937-39, scoring three tries.
When World Battle II broke out in 1939 Obolensky joined the Royal Air Pressure as an Appearing Pilot Officer, however then tragedy struck.
On the age of 24, he was picked for England once more however was killed on a coaching mission when his Hawker Hurricane plane crashed on touchdown in Suffolk.
He was buried on the Ipswich New Cemetery the place the tribute reads, “His undaunted spirit and endearing qualities dwell perpetually within the hearts of all who knew him”.
He was reported to be the primary rugby worldwide to be killed within the Second World Battle.
James Hehir CEO of the native council mentioned Obo, as he was additionally identified, “was a real rugby legend”.
Obo’s niece additionally unveiled a statue in Ipswich in 2008 as a tribute to the Prince. A collection and restaurant are named “Obolensky’s” at Twickenham and a constructing named in his honour at his old fashioned.
The very good ebook, “All Black Magic” by Bob Howitt and Diane Haworth informed the story of Obo’s nephew Edward, a former England under-18 trialist stating: “he can’t go anyplace regardless of each his title and the sport of ’36 cropping up”.
The ebook additionally identifies the Prince as their abroad “Participant of the Decade” for the Nineteen Thirties.
There’s something fascinating concerning the younger, dashing Prince who lived life to the fullest, offering a captivating story from a short-lived life.
The glamorous Prince who fled Russia and have become a global rugby star, any film makers on the market?
