Emile de Lissa

Emile Ernest Vere de Lissa (30 January 1871 – 16 August 1955) was an Australian-born rugby union official who became the second president of the Barbarians.

Personal history

De Lissa was born in Sydney, Australia in 1871 and was educated at Sydney Grammar School. At around the age of 11 his family moved to England, continuing his schooling at University College School. He was a keen sportsman, and although he was a member of Blackheath F.C., he was not a player of note and his career was ended by a foot injury followed by a long sojorn to Germany. De Lissa also played croquet and won the Croquet Association Silver Medal in 1909, and was selected as one of the country's ten best players when he was entered for the Beddow Cup in 1923.

Rugby career