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Harry Thrift

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Harry Thrift
Date of birth(1882-12-24)24 December 1882
Place of birthPortobello, Dublin, Ireland
Date of death2 February 1958(1958-02-02) (aged 75)
Place of deathRathgar, Dublin, Ireland
SchoolThe High School, Dublin
UniversityTrinity College Dublin
Notable relative(s)William Thrift (brother)
Occupation(s)Academic
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1904–09 Ireland 18 (15)

Harry Thrift (24 December 1882 — 2 February 1958) was an Irish international rugby union player.

Born in Portobello, Dublin, Thrift was the younger brother of academic and politician William Thrift. He attended The High School, Dublin, and Trinity College Dublin, where he made the first XV in 1902 as a wing three-quarter. A speedy player, Thrift won a 440 yards national championship in 1906 and got a mention in the "Wandering rocks" chapter of the famous James Joyce novel Ulysses, in reference to his participation in a quarter-mile bicycle race.[1]

Thrift captained Ireland amongst his 18 caps from 1904 to 1909. He formed a productive three-quarter partnership with centre James Cecil Parke, who was also a noted tennis player. His five career tries included one on debut against Wales, helping Ireland to a 11–6 win which gave them a share of the Home Nations title, preventing a triple crown for the Welsh. He was both a selector and president of the Irish Rugby Football Union during the early 1920s.[2]

An academic, Thrift was a fellow and physics lecturer at Trinity College Dublin. He served as bursar of the Dublin University Central Athletic Club, of which he was a founding member.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Kidd, John (30 June 1988). "The Scandal of 'Ulysses'". The New York Review of Books.
  2. ^ "Thrift, William Edward". Dictionary of Irish Biography.
  3. ^ Domhnalláin, Séaghan Ó (20 November 2023). "Rugby sees the light". Trinity News.
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