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THUMB O GRAPHS

WELSH RUGBY LEGENDS

 

  

 

 

HARRY BOWEN

scored the winning points in the first ever victory over a touring team in Wales in 1888

 

 

Harry Bowen's greatest moment in rugby football was when he dropped a goal from the half way line in the Llanelli defeat of the 1888 New Zealand Native Touring Team. This was the only score in the match, the first ever match in Wales by an international overseas touring team. He captained Llanelli from 1885-87 and played in 4 internationals for Wales 1882-86.........

  MORE ABOUT HARRY BOWEN - CLICK HERE 

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ARTHUR GOULD

captain of the first ever Welsh Triple Crown team in 1893

 

 

Arthur Gould was Welsh rugby's first super star. He was the man who put Wales on the rugby map. When he began playing for Wales in 1885, it was only her 8th international and only two wins had been recorded. When he finally retired from international rugby in 1897, he had captained Wales to her first Triple Crown in 1893, Welsh clubs were regularly beating English, Scottish and Irish opponents; and the players who were to usher in the first Golden Era were starting to take their place in the national XV.......... 

MORE ABOUT ARTHUR GOULD - CLICK HERE  

 

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GWYN NICHOLLS

Wales' first ever British Lion in 1899 & first captain (of any team) to defeat the All Blacks (in 1905)

  

Brought out of retirement to captain Wales against the 1905 All Blacks, Nicholls controlled and inspired the team to the greatest of victories. Winning his first cap in 1896 Nicholls career moved from one success to the next. In 1899 he became the first Welshman to play for a British side during the tour of Australia . During this match he scored the first ever international try against the home team. In 1905 he became the first ever captain to defeat the All Blacks while in 1907 he scored a try in Cardiff’s brilliant 17–0 victory over the Springboks. He played a total of 24 times for Wales , refereed the Calcutta Cup match in 1909 and became a Welsh selector in 1925. He died in 1939 and as a tribute Memorial Gates were opened at Cardiff Arms Park in 1949..........

  MORE ABOUT GWYN NICHOLLS - CLICK HERE    

 

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TEDDY MORGAN

scored the try that defeated the 1905 All Blacks

  

Although he played 16 times for Wales, captained the British team in tests against Australia & New Zealand, when the name Teddy Morgan is mentioned only one thing springs to mind, the try he scored against New Zealand in 1905. This was only one of fourteen that he scored for Wales as the London Welsh man dodged, weaved,  swerved and dazzled the opposition between the years 1902 and 1908. In his last match for Wales he captained the team and scored two tries in the 36 - 4 triumph over France during Wales' first Grand Slam season.  ......... 

MORE ABOUT TEDDY MORGAN - CLICK HERE

 

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BERT WINFIELD

captain of the first ever Wales Grand Slam team in 1908

  

Bert Winfield is regarded as being a major contributing factor in the Welsh victory over New Zealand in 1905. The All Blacks manager George Dixon said of him......“of the Welsh backs there is no doubt that Winfield at full back, was the star of the side. His kicking was the best I have seen for years." Winfield won 15 caps for Wales, 1903-08, captaining his country just the once. In the Grand Slam match of 1908 against Ireland, during his career he scored 50 points for Wales......... 

MORE ABOUT BERT WINFIELD - CLICK HERE

 

 

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WILLIE TREW

captain of Wales' 2nd & 3rd Grand Slam teams in 1909 & 1911

  

W J. 'Billy' Trew has been acclaimed by all as not only a great player, but as a truly creative rugby genius. He was a slightly built, frail, ghost-like figure -around 5' 8" tall and under 11 stones in weight. It was during the late 1890s that Trew became the most prolific try-scorer in Welsh club rugby, 33 in 1898/9 and 31 in 1899/1900. Not surprisingly, he was selected to play for Wales against England on January 6, 1900, It was this match at Gloucester which Wales won 13-3 that ushered in the first Welsh Golden Era and true to form it was Billy Trew who scored the first try. The Swansea man played 29 times for Wales over the next 14 seasons including captaining the 2nd and 3rd Grand Slam teams in 1909 & 191

......... MORE ABOUT BILLY TREW - CLICK HERE      

 

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GARETH EDWARDS

Voted the greatest rugby player of all time and ever present in the Welsh Grand Slam teams of 1971, 1976 & 1978

  

Voted regularly as the "Greatest Player Ever"  Edwards first made his debut as a 19 year old against France in 1967. He forged brilliant partnerships for Wales and the British Lions, firstly with Barry John then with Phil Bennett. He totalled 10 tests for the Lions and was ever present in the test series of the 1971 and 1974 tours. He also played in every game of the 1971, 1976 & 1978 Welsh Grand Slams. His final appearance was the 1978 Grand Slam decider against France in Cardiff where he dropped a goal. A brilliant all round sportsman he had a Welsh Trial at soccer, won the English Schools 200 yds hurdles title and has represented Wales at angling.........

MORE ABOUT GARETH EDWARDS - CLICK HERE  

 

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KEITH JARRETT

broke the world points scoring record with 19 points on his debut against England at the age of 18 in 1967

  

Every schoolboy in Wales dreams of running on to the turf at Cardiff in the scarlet shirt of Wales and score the winning try against England. Only 4 months out of school, aged 18 Keith Jarrett did just that and to top the try he broke the world points scoring record with 19 points at the same time. It was one of the most incredible feats of modern day rugby......... 

MORE ABOUT KEITH JARRETT - CLICK HERE