I am a sports historian and have recently written an article for my website about a young Parsi man who captained a rugby football team in Scotland in 1869. This probably makes him the world’s first Indian rugby player.
His name was Bomanjee Dadabhoy, one of three Parsis who came to Dollar Academy boarding school in Dollar, Scotland, in 1868 to finish their education. The other two were Hormusjee Pestonjee Cola and Sorabjee Cursetjee Cama. They were all from Bombay and were born about 1850.
The full article can be read on https://www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-history-news-and-blog/an-indian-rugby-captain-in-scotland-in-1869
Although I have written about Dadabhoy’s time in the UK, I have not been able to ascertain much about his life story, either his family background or his later career. If readers know anything about him, I would really appreciate hearing from them. ANDY MITCHELL
Edinburgh, Scotland
andymitchellmedia@gmail.com
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