Sidney Herbert Penny (7 October 1875 – 23 May 1965) was a

rugby union Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...

hooker who played 491 games for

Leicester Tigers Leicester Tigers (officially Leicester Football Club) are a professional rugby union club based in Leicester, England. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby. The club was founded in 1880 and since 1892 plays its home ...

between 1896 and 1910 and once for England in 1909. Penny made his

Leicester Leicester ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city, Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area, and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest city in the East Midlands with a popula ...

debut on 4 January 1896 away to

Gloucester Gloucester ( ) is a cathedral city, non-metropolitan district and the county town of Gloucestershire in the South West England, South West of England. Gloucester lies on the River Severn, between the Cotswolds to the east and the Forest of Dean ...

in a 20–12 defeat and by the end of the season firmly established himself in the side. 10 years later on 1 December 1906 against

Northampton Northampton ( ) is a town and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England. It is the county town of Northamptonshire and the administrative centre of the Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority of West Northamptonshire. The town is sit ...

Penny broke the club's appearance record with his 359th appearance for the club. On Boxing Day 1910 he was awarded an honorary scroll for making 500 first team appearances, however modern research can find only 491 games in which he played. This was the record number of appearances until 1973 David Matthews broke his record. He is still second most selected player for

of all time. Penny played in a record 40 Midlands Counties Cup games, winning the competition a record 10 times including 8 in succession, and losing only once. Penny played his only international for England on 9 January 1909 against Australia at Blackheath.

Sources

Farmer,Stuart & Hands, David ''Tigers-Official History of Leicester Football Club'' (The Rugby DevelopmentFoundation )

References

1875 births 1965 deaths English rugby union players England international rugby union players Rugby union players from Leicester Rugby union hookers Leicester Tigers players {{England-rugbyunion-bio-1870s-stub