Adrian Stoop

Who was Adrian Stoop?

Adrian Stoop was an English rugby union player of Dutch descent.

He played 182 times for Harlequins between 1901 and 1939, and won 15 caps for England.

He was president of the Harlequins 1920–1949. The club's ground, The Stoop, is named in his memory.

His association with Harlequins lasted from his debut against Oxford University in November 1901 until 1950 when he ended his 30 year stint as president of the club. He played his last game in Quins colours in 1939, at the age of 56. He made 182 appearances in total, captained the side 143 times and scored 86 tries, being club captain for 8 consecutive seasons from 1906/07 to 1913/14.

Stoop was born on 27 March 1883 in Cromwell Road, London. His father was Dutch and his mother was half Scottish/half Irish. He went to Dover College in 1896 and on to Rugby School in 1898, where he played for the school team, and then to Oxford University, where he was captain of the rugby team in 1904.

It was whilst he was still at Rugby school that he was asked to join Harlequins. He had also been approached by Blackheath, who at the time were a bigger name than Quins, but he decided to accept the offer from Quins.