A. G. G. Asher Explained

Sir Augustus Grant-Asher
Birth Name:Augustus Gordon Grant-Asher
Birth Date:18 December 1861
Birth Place:Poona, British India
Ru Position:Half-back
Ru Amateuryears:-
1885
1886
Ru Amateurclubs:Oxford University
Edinburgh Wanderers
Fettesian-Lorettonians
Ru Provinceyears:1885
1886
Ru Province:Edinburgh District
East of Scotland District
Ru Nationalyears:1882–86
Ru Nationalteam:Scotland
Ru Nationalcaps:7
Ru Nationalpoints:(2gls, 1 try)
Death Place:Kingussie, Scotland
Module2:
Embed:yes
Office:President of the Scottish Rugby Union
Term Start:1929
Term End:1930
Order:50th

Sir Augustus Gordon Grant-Asher (18 December 1861 – 15 June 1930)[1] [2] was a Scotland international rugby union player.[3] He also represented Scotland as a cricket player.[4]

Rugby Union career

Amateur career

Grant-Asher went to Loretto School, and went up to Brasenose College, Oxford after that.[5]

He played for Oxford University RFC,[4] as well as the Fettesian-Lorettonian Club, and Edinburgh Wanderers.[1]

Provincial career

He was capped by Edinburgh District for the inter-city match in 1885 while with Edinburgh Wanderers.[6]

He was capped by East of Scotland District for their match against West of Scotland District. This was at the end of January 1886; and he was now with Fettesian-Lorettonians.[7]

International career

One of the earliest Scottish players, he was capped 7 times for between 1882 and 1886.[4] He played at half back.[1] [8]

R.J. Phillips, the first historian of Scottish rugby said:

"no one has arisen to bear comparison with A.R. Don Wauchope at quarter or half back, where he and A.G.G. Asher still hold claim as the greatest pair to have played together for their country."[9]

Administrative career

He was president of the Scottish Rugby Union from 1929 to 1930.[1]

Cricket career

At Oxford, he played in 10 first-class cricket matches for the Oxford University team in 1883 and 1884, winning a Blue for cricket in 1883.[10] He also played for the Scotland national cricket team.[1] [4]

Other sports

He also won the Scottish pole vault championship in 1885, and 1886.[11] [1]

Law career

In later life he was a Writer to the Signet.[1]

Honours

He was appointed CBE in the 1918 Birthday Honours and knighted in the 1927 Birthday Honours.

Death

He is buried in the churchyard of Insh Church, Kincraig, near Kingussie, Highland.[2]

See also

References

Sources
  1. Bath, Richard (ed.) The Scotland Rugby Miscellany (Vision Sports Publishing Ltd, 2007)
  2. Godwin, Terry Complete Who's Who of International Rugby (Cassell, 1987,)
  3. Massie, Allan A Portrait of Scottish Rugby (Polygon, Edinburgh;)

Notes and References

  1. Godwin, p30
  2. Web site: Sir Augustus Gordon Grant Asher C.B.E. 1861 - 1930 BillionGraves Record. BillionGraves.
  3. Web site: Augustus Gordon Grant-Asher. ESPN scrum.
  4. Bath, p104
  5. http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whowaswho/U205401 ASHER, Sir Augustus Gordon Grant
  6. News: 7 December 1885 . Football . subscription . 1 August 2024 . . 4.
  7. News: 30 January 1886 . Rugby Rules . subscription . 1 August 2024 . . 3.
  8. Web site: Rugby Union - ESPN Scrum - Statsguru - Player analysis - Augustus Grant-Asher - Test matches. ESPN scrum.
  9. Massie, p10
  10. Web site: Player profile: Augustus Asher. CricketArchive . 3 March 2013.
  11. Scottish Athletics 1883-1983, John W. Keddie (1982)