John Warburton Sagar (6 December 1878 – 10 January 1941)[1] was a former England international rugby union fullback and British diplomat in the Sudan.[2]

John Warburton Sagar
Birth nameJohn Warburton Sagar
Date of birth(1878-12-06)6 December 1878
Place of birthEasington, County Durham, England
Date of death10 January 1941(1941-01-10) (aged 62)
Place of deathBournemouth, England
UniversityJesus College, Cambridge
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Cambridge University R.U.F.C.
Barbarian F.C.
Castleford RFC
Wakefield RFC
()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1901 England 2 (0)

Life history edit

Sagar was born in County Durham in 1878 and was educated at Durham School.[3]

In 1898 he gained entry to Jesus College, Cambridge and was awarded his degree in 1901. On leaving university he became a private tutor in Yorkshire, before leaving to accompany a friend on a voyage around the world.[4]

On his return in 1902 he joined Loretto School in Scotland as an assistant master. In 1903 he joined the Sudan Political Service, remaining with the service until 1924. He gained several promotions during his time in Sudan, becoming the Governor of Kordofan from 1917 to 1922, and the Governor of Wadi Halfa from 1922 until he left the service in 1924.[5]

Sagar died of myocardial degeneration[6] in Bournemouth, England in 1941.

Rugby career edit

While at Jesus College, Sagar played for Cambridge University and in 1899 and 1900, played in The Varsity Match against Oxford winning two sporting Blues.

He played twice for England in the 1901 Home International championships.

He was the first captain of the newly formed Wakefield RFC in September 1901, the chairmen William Ticken Smith "had great pleasure in proposing that Mr Sagar be appointed captain, observing that they all knew his capacities as an International, Varsity and Yorkshire County player".[7]

References edit

  1. ^ John Sagar player profile Scrum.com
  2. ^ "Sagar, John Warburton (SGR898JW)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  3. ^ "Old Bowites: Durham School: Independent day and boarding school in the North East of England for boys and girls".
  4. ^ Wakefield Express 12.10.1901
  5. ^ Hill, R. L., A Biographical Dictionary of the Sudan (2nd ed., 1967) p. 324
  6. ^ The Times 27-1-1941
  7. ^ Wakefield and the West Riding Herald 3-8-1901

Sources edit

  • Wakefield Rugby Football Club—1901-2001 A Centenary History. Written and compiled by David Ingall in 2001.
  • A biographical dictionary of the Sudan By Richard Leslie Hill. Page 324. ISBN 978-0-7146-1037-5