Frederick Dean, known as “Ginger”, started his playing career at Plymouth Olympic and later played for Devonport and Plymouth Albion. He played county rugby for both Devon and Cornwall and was in the Devon team in a famous match against the touring New Zealanders in 1905. It was the first match of the All Blacks’ tour and whilst Devon were the favourites as County Championship runners-up, they were outclassed by their visitors who ran out 55-4 winners. Switching his allegiance to Cornwall, Dean was in their 1908 County Championship-winning side. He was one of 10 members of that successful team to then represent the County against the Australians at the 1908 London Olympics. He had also played against the tourists at Camborne three weeks before the Olympics. He was in the Cornwall team who lost to Durham in the 1909 County Championship final. Frederick Dean was the landlord of the Crown & Column public house in Devonport from 1912 until his death on his 66th birthday in 1946.
Great Britain