George Rowland Hill

Sir George Rowland Hill (21 January 1855 – 25 April 1928) was an English sporting administrator, official and referee, who is most notable for his role as the Secretary and later President of the Rugby Football Union (RFU). Hill gave 49 years service to the RFU, and in 1927 became the first person to be knighted for services to the sport of rugby union.

Sporting career

Hill first came to prominence when in 1881 he became one of the first secretaries of the Rugby Football Union, the official union to the game of rugby football in England.

Personal life Hill was educated at Christ's Hospital School between 1865 and 1870, becoming the school's rugby club president in 1919.

Outside sport, Hill was a keen public servant. For 37 years he held the post as the chairman of the Greenwich Conservative Association and from 1922 to 1925 he served on the London County Council as a representative of Greenwich.

Hill died on 25 April 1928. His funeral service was held at Greenwich Parish Church, and was attended by over 500 people.