1896–97 Rugby Union County Championship

1896–97 County Championship
Countries	England
Champions	Kent (1st title)
Runners-up	Cumberland

The 1896–97 Rugby Union County Championship was the ninth edition of England's premier rugby union club competition at the time.^[1]

Kent won the competition for the first time defeating Cumberland in the final. The Championship was subject to criticism regarding the lack of interest shown by some counties.^[2][3][4]

Final

10 April 1897

Cumberland	3–9	Kent
Try: Moore		Try: Royds, Bunting Pen: Livesay

Carlisle

W Burkett Millom M Young Millom R Moore Millom T Fletcher Seaton W Cunningham Millom Samuel Northmore Millom T James Millom James Davidson (capt) Aspatria Joseph Blacklock Aspatria J Walker Aspatria W Young Workington W Moore Workington D Elliot Carlisle Edward Knowles Millom S Hogarth Millom

Gerald Gordon-Smith Blackheath A Latter Blackheath William Bunting Harlequins John Fegan (capt) Blackheath W Walmsley Southwark Home Robert Livesay Blackheath F C Wetherell Guy's Hospital F Jacob Cambridge University Fairfax Luxmoore Cambridge University Frank Mitchell Blackheath William Tucker Blackheath Alexander Todd Blackheath Philip Maud Blackheath A G Gibson London Scottish N M Marples Croydon

See also

• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

References

1. Jenkins, Vivian (1976). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook, 1975-1976. Brickfield Publications Ltd. pp. 130–131. ISBN 0362-00221-5.
2. ""The Rugby Union County Championship." Times, 10 Apr. 1897, p. 11". British Newspaper Archives.
3. "Club Matches, 12 April". Eastern Daily Press - Norwich. 1897.
4. "Football, 15 April". Cornishman - Penzance. 1897.