Benjamin Edward Erb (December 3, 1892 – June 8, 1988) was an American rugby union player who played fullback for the United States men's national team in its first capped match in 1912.[1]
 Erb with the US team in 1912 (pictured front row, sixth from left) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Benjamin Edward Erb | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | March 12, 1892 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Minneapolis, Minnesota | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | June 8, 1988 (aged 96) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Novato, California | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Stanford University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Biography
editErb was born on December 3, 1892, in Minneapolis, Minnesota,[1] the son of John Erb and Rosa Erb (born Luedke).[2] He was one of 10 children in a rugby-playing family and was raised in Vancouver, British Columbia.[2][3] Erb attended Stanford University from 1908 until 1912, where he played for the rugby team and served as captain during his senior season.[2] In 1910, he began playing rugby for the United States national team, joining them on their tour of Australia and New Zealand against club opposition.[2] On November 16, 1912, Erb played for the United States at fullback in its first capped match against Australia.[1] In that match, he scored one conversion "from a difficult angle" and one penalty goal from a distance of 40 yards.[1][4] Erb was also included in the roster for the United States in their 1913 match against New Zealand, but did not make an appearance.[2] Erb's younger brother, Arthur L. Erb, also attended Stanford and played rugby there.[5]
Outside of rugby, Erb was drafted into the United States Army.[2] He died in Novato, California on June 8, 1988.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Benjamin Erb". espn.co.uk. ESPN. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Benjamin Edward Erb". The Rugby History Society. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
- ^ "Crack Half back Rejoins Cardinals". The San Francisco Call. Vol. 108, no. 70. Stanford University. August 9, 1910. p. 13.
He comes from a family of Rugby players and has lived all his life among the Rugby squads of British Columbia.
- ^ University of California 1913 Yearbook, in "Laird Monterey Morris". The Rugby History Society. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
Erb converted from a difficult angle. The next American score came in the middle of the second half, when Erb converted a penalty kick from the forty-yard line.
- ^ BOBS. (November 3, 1912). "Rival Colleges Expected to Finish Close Together". The San Francisco Chronicle. Vol. CI, no. 111. p. 57. Retrieved January 8, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
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