Hal Withers

Henry Hastings Cavendish Withers (11 October 1904 — 6 September 1948) was a British Army officer, engineer and Ireland international rugby union player of the 1930s.

Hal Withers

DSO

Full name	Henry Hastings Cavendish Withers
Date of birth	(1904-10-11)11 October 1904
Place of birth	Bengal, India
Date of death	6 September 1948(1948-09-06) (aged 43)
Place of death	Millbank, London, England
School	Cheltenham College
Occupation(s)	Army officer / Engineer
Rugby union career
Position(s) No. 8 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1931 Ireland 5 (0)

The son of an Army colonel, Withers was born in Bengal and educated at Cheltenham College.^[1]

Withers, a forward, was a product of Army rugby and gained five Ireland caps. He played all of Ireland's 1931 Five Nations fixtures and featured against the touring Springboks at the end of the year.^[2]

A graduate of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, Withers was commissioned into the Royal Engineers and posted to India in 1934. He served as a garrison engineer in Quetta and in 1940 was decorated with Distinguished Service Order for "gallant and distinguished services" on active service during World War II.^[3]

See also

• List of Ireland national rugby union players