Anthony Starks

Anthony Starks (born 11 August 1873 in Castleford — died January 1952 in Hull) was an English dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1890s, and 1900s, playing representative level rugby union (RU) for England, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Castleford RUFC [1], as a Forward, and playing representative level rugby league (RL) for England, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Hull Kingston Rovers, as a prop, i.e. number 8 or 10, during the era of contested scrums. England's Anthony Starks and Wales' Jack Rhapps took the field in the inaugural rugby league international of Tuesday 5 April 1904 between England and Other Nationalities. Starks had made two rugby union Test appearances for England in 1896, and Rhapps had made a single rugby union Test appearance for Wales in 1897, and thus in April 1904 they became the world's first dual-code rugby internationals.

Anthony Starks won caps for England (RU) while at Castleford in the 25–0 victory over Wales at Rectory Field, Blackheath on 4 January 1896, and the 4–10 defeat by Ireland at Meanwood Road, Leeds on 1 February 1896, and won a cap playing left-prop, and was captain for England (RL) while at Hull Kingston Rovers in the 3–9 defeat by Other Nationalities at Central Park, Wigan on Tuesday 5 April 1904, in the first ever international rugby league match.