IT was a moment of sporting history.

On April 19, 1910, the finest of Britain’s rugby players assembled on the dockside in Southampton.

They were about to board the RMSP Avon for what one enthusiast described as something of a missionary expedition.

They were introducing the sport to Argentina, the first trip of its kind to South America.

Initially the team was due to have solely composed of university students, principally from Oxford and Cambridge, but such was the timing of the tour many were unable to get leave of absence.

However, they were a formidable force, containing no less than four internationals in their captain full back John Raphael - who was no mean cricketer - half back Anthony Henniker-Gotley, winger Alexander Palmer and Barrie Bennetts who also played on the wing.

The remainder of the 19 strong party –- 16 Englishmen and three Scots – were all notable county players, with the trip organised by Major RV Stanley, the Oxford representative of the Rugby Union Committee.

Having gathered at Waterloo Station, they travelled on the 9.28 boat train for Southampton, with the Hampshire Independent reporter noting they looked in ‘the pink of condition’ as they boarded the gangway.

Though Argentina lies in the southern hemisphere, their season roughly corresponded with our own October and the players were relieved to hear the opponents’ grounds had markedly improved in condition of late.

Stanley named the side as the English Rugby Union Team but the hosts advertised the tourists as the Combined British.

For the record, it was comprised of J E Raphael (Old Merchant Taylors); backs B B Bennetts (Penzanze), S Smith (Manchester), A C Palmer (London Hospital) F Mills (Manchester), J E Fuller (Old Merchant Taylors) and R Gibbs (Cardiff); three quarter-backs J N Beasley (Northampton), A L Gotley (Oxforfd University) and R Harrison (Northampton); half backs W S Stranach (Guy’s Hospital), P D Strang (Old Merfchant Taylors) P R Diggle (Oxford University) M Tweed (Guy’s Hospital) S Holmwood (Blackheath), H E Ward (Harlequins), H Whitehead (Manchester), H G Montis (Scotland), F Ashby (Birkenhead) and Lieut W Huntingford (United Services) forwards.

The visit was a resounding success on and off the pitch, with the tourists playing six and winning all six games, though they scraped home in their opening game, beating Olimpicos (Argentina A) 17-13.

The other matches however were straight forward, thrashing Belgrano 58-0, Argentina B 39-5, and Buenos Aires 28-0.

They then played the first historic test, defeating Argentina 28-3 before concluding their tour with an emphatic 41-10 victory over Argentinos Navitos.

But for the home nation, it represented the establishment of their international rugby union and the test on June 12 was the first test in their national team’s history.