From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lawrence Bulger
Lawrence Bulger
Lawrence Bulger AAA athletics champion.[6] Lawrence Bulger was an Irish
Full name Lawrence Quinlivan Bulger 220 yard sprint champion, and through his connection
with athletics was a representative at the Sorbonne in
Date of birth 5 July 1875
Paris when Pierre de Coubertin suggested the creation
Place of birth County Clare, Ireland of a modern Olympic Games.[7] Bulger was taken ill at
Twickenham on Saint Patrick’s Day, 1928 and died short-
Date of death 17 March 1928
ly after leaving the ground.[8] He was 58.
Place of death Twickenham, England
School Blackrock College Rugby career
University Trinity College, Dublin
Rugby union career
Blackrock
Lawrence Bulger was a member of the Blackrock College
Playing career side which won the first Leinster Schools Cup in 1887.[9]
Position Wing
Ireland
Professional / senior clubs
After Bulger left Blackrock, he gained entry to Trinity
Years Club / team Caps (points) College, Dublin where he studied medicine. While at
Dublin University Trinity he represented Dublin University Football Club
Lansdowne and showed a flair for athletics. Bulger was first chosen
London Irish to represent Ireland while still playing for Dublin Univer-
National team(s) sity, when he was selected to face England as part of
the 1896 Home Nations Championship. Played at Mean-
Years Club / team Caps (points) wood Road in Leeds, Bulger was part of a victorious Irish
1896-1898 Ireland 8 (22) team, and managed to appear on the score sheet when
1896 British Isles XV 4 (3) he converted both of the Irish tries. He was reselected
for the next two games of the tournament, both played
Lawrence ’Larry’ Quinlivan Bulger (5 February 1870 – 17 at Lansdowne Road, a draw against Scotland and a win
March 1928) was an Irish rugby union player, athlete and over Wales, Bulger scoring another conversion in the lat-
doctor. Bulger played international rugby for Ireland and er match. Ireland finished the Championship at the top of
in 1896 was chosen to represent a British Isles XV in their the table, making Bulger a Home Nations winning player,
tour of South Africa. Bulger, who was nicknamed ’Fat Fat though he could have been a Triple Crown winner if he
Cupid’ [1] was described as an elusive runner and a devas-
Cupid’, had scored from a penalty kick in the Scottish game.[10]
tating tackler, one of Ireland’s outstanding players. [1] Bulger was reselected for the 1897 Championship which
was played against only two opponents after Wales with-
History drew from the IRB due to the Gould Affair. Bulger scored
in both games, with a try against Scotland and in the
Lawrence Bulger was born in County Clare in 1870[2]. The game played at home to England, he became the first Ir-
Bulger family lived in Moore Street, Kilrush, where his fa- ish player to score a goal from a mark in an internation-
ther, Daniel Scanlan Bulger, was a woollen merchant and al[11] as well as the highest scoring Irishman in the com-
draper and ran a loan office.[3] His mother Anne, nee De- petition to date when another try took his tally for that
lany, was from Limerick.[4] Later the Bulgers moved to game to seven points.[12] Bulger’s last campaign for Ire-
Dublin, where Daniel was a stockbroker and city coun- land was during the 1898 Home Nations Championship;
cillor. It was a sporting family. Lawrence and his broth- now playing for Lansdowne.[13] His penalty goal was de-
er Michael were educated at Blackrock College.[5] Both of cisive in the win over England,[14] but he was part of a
Lawrence’s older brothers, Michael Bulger and Daniel De- losing Ireland team in the last two games of the tour-
lany Bulger, were notable athletes: Michael also played nament. The match against Wales, at Limerick on the 18
rugby for Ireland and was one of the umpires whose aid March, was his final game for his country.
disqualified Italian marathon runner Dorando Pietri at After his Irish career came to an end, Bulger contin-
the 1908 Olympics; while Daniel was a five time British ued playing rugby in England. He set up a medical prac-
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lawrence Bulger
tice in London with his brother Michael, and Michael be- [8] The Times, Tuesday, Mar 20, 1928; pg. 7; Issue
came a founding member of the exiles team London Ir- 44846; col C.
ish.[6] Both brothers turned out regularly for the club. [9] Seán Diffley (2002-01-21). "Cupid’s arrow starts
love-in". http://www.independent.ie/sport/
British Isles XV rugby/cupids-arrow-starts-lovein-320725.html.
In 1896, while still a student, Bulger was selected to tour Retrieved 2011-11-26.
with Jonny Hammond’s British Isles team on their trip to [10] Godwin (1984), pg 47.
South Africa. The team contained nine Irishmen, the first [11] Griffiths (1987), pg 3:9.
time an overseas tour had contained such a large con- [12] Godwin (1984), pg 50.
tingent of players from Ireland. Bulger played in all four [13] Lansdowne Football Club Hall of Fame
tests, the tourists winning three. Bulger scored a try in [14] See team photograph.
the first test at Port Elizabeth, and set a tour record of 19 [15] Lawrence Bulger player profile Lionsrugby.com
tries across the full 21 matches played.[6][15]
References
Notes • Godwin, Terry (1984). The International Rugby
[1] ^ Godwin (1984), pg 48. Championship 1883-1983. London: Willows Books.
[2] [1]; some sources give his date of birth incorrectly ISBN 000218060X.
as 5 July 1875; this is clearly impossible, as his sister • Griffiths, John (1987). The Phoenix Book of International
Anne was born on 2 October 1875. Rugby Records. London: Phoenix House.
[3] Bassett’s Directory 1880-1. ISBN 0460070037.
[4] 1901 census Persondata
[5] [2] Name Bulger, Lawrence
[6] ^ Cyril M. White. "University Athletics in Ireland
Alternative names
1857–2000". athleticsireland.
http://www.athleticsireland.ie/statistics/ Short description
AHistoryofIrishAthletics.htm. Retrieved Date of birth 5 February 1870
2009-03-05. Place of birth County Clare, Ireland
[7] Seán Diffley (2007-07-14). "Tailteann Games’ place
Date of death 17 March 1928
in history going for a song".
http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/ Place of death Twickenham, England
tailteann-games-place-in-history-going-for-a-
song-1037527.html. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lawrence_Bulger&oldid=462625969"
Categories:
• 1875 births
• 1928 deaths
• People from County Clare
• Ireland international rugby union players
• Irish rugby union players
• British and Irish Lions rugby union players from Ireland
• Irish medical doctors
• Lansdowne Football Club players
• Dublin University Football Club players
• London Irish players
• Alumni of Trinity College, Dublin
• Rugby union wings
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