Championships he was captain on four consecutive occasions. The 1910 championship was also one in which England became the first Five Nations champions, and Birkett scored twice in the match against Scotland. During his international career he played 21 times for England, and at the time of his final match in Paris this was England's record cap holder. He was also the record try scorer with ten. Ironically, he never captained his club-side. However, he never lost his place in the Harlequins side and was part of the generation that witnessed the move to the new Twickenham Stadium. He played in the inaugural match on 2 October 1909, at what is now the home of English rugby. In this match he had the distinction of scoring the first try at the new stadium, echoing his father's distinction of having scored England's first ever try in 1871. Career and later life In World War One he was a captain in the Royal Field Artillery and was mentioned in dispatches 18 times. He was also decorated with the Order of the Crown of Italy, 5th Class (Knight). In 1915 he married Elsie Allen in Chertsey. They had a son, John Brian who was born on 2 October 1916 and who would later become a brigadier and serve in the Second World War. John Birkett died on 16 October 1967, which was registered in Cuckfield. References 1884 births 1967 deaths Birkett family British Army personnel of World War I England international rugby union players English rugby union players Harlequin F.C. players People educated at Haileybury and Imperial Service College Royal Field Artillery officers Rugby union centres Rugby union players from Richmond, London