WELSH RUGBY LEGENDS
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scored the winning points in the first ever victory over a touring team in Wales in 1888
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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......... |
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ARTHUR GOULD captain
of the first ever Welsh Triple Crown team in 1893
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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.......... |
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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)
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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 |
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TEDDY MORGAN scored the try that defeated the 1905 All Blacks
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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. ......... |
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BERT WINFIELD captain of the first ever Wales Grand Slam team in 1908
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MORE ABOUT BERT WINFIELD - CLICK HERE
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WILLIE TREW captain of Wales' 2nd & 3rd Grand Slam teams in 1909 & 1911
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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
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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......... |
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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
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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......... |
