David Marques

David Marques

Full name	Reginald William David Marques
Date of birth	9 December 1932
Place of birth	Ware, Hertfordshire, England
Date of death	29 September 2010
School	Yardley Court Tonbridge School
University	Cambridge University
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Lock
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
? 1956–1958 1956–? 1958–?	Army Cambridge University R.U.F.C. Barbarian F.C. Harlequin F.C.
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1956–61 1959	England British Lions	23 2	(3) (0)

Reginald William David Marques (9 December 1932 – 29 September 2010)^[1] was an English rugby union international lock forward. At club level he represented Cambridge University, the Army and most notably Harlequin F.C.. He played international rugby with England and in 1959 he was selected to tour New Zealand and Australia with the British Lions.

Personal history

Marques was born in Ware, Hertfordshire in 1932, and was educated at Yardley Court and Tonbridge School where he played in the rugby first XV alongside Colin Cowdrey.^[2] Marques completed his national service with the Royal Engineers before matriculating to Cambridge University. After retiring from rugby he joined the family firm making street lights.^[2]

In 1964 Marques was a member of the 1964 America's Cup challenger team, aboard the Sovereign. He was also a magistrate, a governor for Haileybury College and a church warden for 23 years. He was married with three children.^[2]

Playing career

Marques came to note as a rugby player when he represented Cambridge University, playing in four Varsity Matches. He later played for the Army, but it was his eleven years spent with Harlequins that he was best known. In 1956 he was selected to play for invitational tourists the Barbarians, playing against the 1958 Australians and then travelled with the Barbarians on their tours to Canada and South Africa. 1956 was also the year in which Marques was first selected to play for the England national team, facing Wales as part of the 1956 Five Nations Championship.

Marques played a total of 23 matches for England, including two touring parties, the 1958 Australians and the 1961 South Africans. During the 1957 Five Nations Championship and 1958 Five Nations Championship Marques became a member of two Grand Slam winning teams. As a forward player, Marques was never in the position to be a prolific scorer, but he scored his one and only international try in the 1960 encounter with Ireland.^[3] In 1959 he was chosen to tour Australia and New Zealand with the British Lions. He played in 18 matches of the tour, including two Tests, the Second Test against Australia and Second Test versus New Zealand.^[4]

Marques made an impression on the British Lions tour from the moment he arrived. When he stepped off the plane on its arrival at Australia, he was dressed as a stereotypical British gent in white shirt, military tie, dark suit, bowler hat and rolled umbrella.^[5] Another event of the tour that showed Marques's personality was when he was kicked in the face during an off-the-ball incident by Albie Pryor. Instead of retaliating, he got to his feet and shook his aggressor's hand; when he was asked by fellow Lion, Bill Mulcahy, why he hadn't punched Pryor, Marques replied, "You wouldn’t understand, Bill. I wanted him to feel a cad."^[5]

Notes