Francis Luscombe

Francis Luscombe (23 November 1849 – 17 July 1926) was a rugby union international who represented England from 1872 to 1876. He also captained his country. He was baptised at Ifield Church and with his family soon after moved to Croydon His father, John Henry Luscombe (1797 to 1883), was a shipowner who had married late in life at the age of fifty to Clara Bristow (1823 to 1910), twenty-six years his junior. Francis, known as Frank in his family, had at least three siblings, an older brother John Henry "Harry" (1848–1937), a younger brother, Alfred (1851–1942) and a younger sister Clara Elizabeth "Kitty" (1854–1900). He attended Tonbridge School. However, this is a misconception because Francis Luscombe did not play in that first international, though his brother did.

Prior to the first international and also before the foundation of the Rugby Football Union, Luscombe had not only established himself as a formidable rugby forward, but had also been instrumental in the creation of the Gipsies Football Club. It was founded in October 1868 by three Old Tonbridgians, Francis Luscombe, J. A. Body, and W. J. Parker. These three men were keen on football and wanted to provide a football club in London with which Tonbridge's former pupils could affiliate, much as the Marlborough Nomads served Marlborough College. These three soon recruited a number of likeminded individuals and in the summer of 1868 they were able to arrange a card of matches for the season 1868–69. After the two first matches had been played a meeting was called on 17 October 1868 and "The Gipsies Football Club" was formed with Francis Luscombe elected as honorary secretary. The team was based in Peckham. and was unbeaten in its first season (with 7 matches won and 11 drawn) and in the next season, 1869–70, the club continued its good form playing 18 out of which they drew 13, won 3 and lost just 2. Among the many opponents attracted to play the team were Blackheath FC, Richmond FC, Oxford and Cambridge Universities, Ravenscourt Park, Marlborough Nomads, Woolwich, Sandhurst, Cooper's Hill, St. Andrew's Rovers, Clapham Rovers, and West Kent.

Such was the reputation of the club, that on 26 January 1871, the Gipsies were one of the twenty-one London and suburban football clubs that followed Rugby School rules that assembled at the Pall Mall Restaurant in Regent Street and formed the Rugby Football Union was formed. Luscombe was not only present but became one of the thirteen original committee members. He later bred horses and was the owner of the Tilgate Forest Stud near Crawley in West Sussex. Although married to Mary Edith Hogg on 5 April 1877, he had no children. Similarly, his sister Clara, had no issue. He did have a number of nieces and nephews via his two brothers.