Henry Toft

H B Toft
Birth name	Herbert Toft
Date of birth	2 October 1909
Place of birth	Salford, Greater Manchester
Date of death	7 July 1987 (aged 77)
Place of death	(registered in) Chichester
School	Manchester Grammar School
University	Manchester University
Occupation(s)	[Headmaster and Captain of England's Rugby Team]
Rugby union career
Position(s)
Position(s)	Hooker
International career
Years	Team
1936-1939	England

Herbert Toft (1909–1987), known as H. B. Toft, Henry Toft, or Bert Toft, was a rugby union international who represented England from 1936 to 1939.^[2] He also captained his country.^[2]

Early life

Hebert Toft was born on 2 October 1909 in Salford.^[2] He attended Manchester Grammar School and then Manchester University,^[1] returning to his school to become a teacher and later headmaster.^[1] Born Herbert Toft, he was known by a number of variations on this. Although named Herbert, by the time he was at university he was known as Henry. One explanation of why he then became known as H B Toft was that when it became apparent that of the founders of the Manchester XXI Club he was the only one with one forename, they rechristened him Henry "Bloody" Toft.^[3] However, he had also been known as Bert due to a foreshortening of his birth name. This was combined with his nickname Henry such that he became known as Henry Bert Toft, and thence H B Toft. So ubiquitous was the use of Henry Bert Toft as his name that some commentators on the sport cite Henry Bert as his forenames.^[4]

Rugby union career

Toft played for Sale Rugby Club and made his international debut on 21 March 1936 at Twickenham in the England vs Scotland match.^[2] Of the 10 matches he played for his national side he was on the winning side on 7 occasions.^[2] He played his final match for England on 18 March 1939 at Murrayfield in the Scotland vs England match.^[2] His rugby career was interrupted by World War II when he left to serve in the Royal Air Force.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Steve Lewis, One Among Equals, pages 141, 2008 (Vertical Editions:London)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Herbert Toft Profile on scrum.com
^ University of Manchester XXI Club – Club History: The First 25 Years – written by Allister Cranna (Cross Country 1944)^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Steve Lewis, One Among Equals, pages 278, 2008 (Vertical Editions:London)

[1] RAF V Paris at Parc Des Princes 11 November 1944
[2] The RAF team who played in the last wartime fixture at Swansea with South Wales whom they beat 22–3 on 7 October 1944.