WilliamCave

Born in Croydon and educated in his early years at Kent’s Tonbridge School, William Cave first came to the fore as a rugby player at Cambridge University.

There he was selected for the Varsity Match against Oxford in 1902 and proceeded to win three Blues – including a particularly impressive try-scoring performance in a Varsity victory two years later.

Cave was honoured with a Lions call-up in 1903 while still studying at Cambridge – alongside David Bedell-Sivright, Tom Gibson and Alfred Hind – and the forward became a regular choice in South Africa.

He played 19 games on Tour but his most important contribution was a try in the first Test against South Africa, that was drawn 10-10.

Cave, who reached the rank of second lieutenant during World War One, continued his first-class rugby career at Blackheath and earned his one and only England cap against Wales at the 1905 Home Nations Championship.