William Eric Evans (27 February 1894 – 21 June 1955) was a

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peopl ...

rugby player and the secretary of the

Welsh Rugby Union The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU; cy, Undeb Rygbi Cymru) is the Sports governing body, governing body of rugby union in the country of Wales, recognised by the sport's international governing body, World Rugby. The WRU is responsible for the running ...

from 1948–1955.Owen (1956), Obituary p. 77 Born in

Neath Neath (; cy, Castell-nedd) is a market town and Community (Wales), community situated in the Neath Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot County Borough, Wales. The town had a population of 50,658 in 2011. The community of the parish of Neath had a po ...

in 1894, Evans left Wales to study at

St Catharine's College, Cambridge St Catharine's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1473 as Katharine Hall, it adopted its current name in 1860. The college is nicknamed "Catz". The college is located in the historic city-centre of Camb ...

. He returned to Neath during his vacations where he played for the Neath Rugby Club.Smith (1980), pg243. The outbreak of the First World War prevented Evans completing his university education and he was posted at

Gallipoli The Gallipoli peninsula (; tr, Gelibolu Yarımadası; grc, Χερσόνησος της Καλλίπολης, ) is located in the southern part of East Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles ...

. After the end of hostilities he returned to Cambridge and graduated in 1922. He returned to Wales and became English master and rugby coach of Cardiff High School. In 1923 he was one of the founding members of the Welsh Secondary Schools Rugby Union (WSSRU),Smith (1980), pg240. to which the turn in fortune in

rugby in the 1930s is attributed. He was a director of the Cardiff Arms Park Company and was a freeman of Haverfordwest. In 1948 Evans would replace fellow Neath stalwart,

Walter E. Rees Captain Walter Enoch Rees (13 April 1863 – 6 June 1949)Walter E. Rees biograp ...

, as secretary of the Welsh Rugby Union, after acting as honorary assistant secretary for the previous two years. Evans was a popular choiceSmith (1980), pg311. having been a member of the union for the last twenty one years and proving through his connections with the WSSRU his commitment to the advancement of the Welsh game. In his first season as secretary he brought clear administration and a sense of professionalism. During his first Christmas in charge he returned nearly a hundred gifts from various donors who were hoping for some consideration in the distribution of international tickets.Smith (1980), pg312. In 1955 Evans died while still in office; during his time as secretary he saw Wales win two Triple Crowns and the formation of the Welsh Youth Union in 1949.

Bibliography

* *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, Eric 1894 births 1955 deaths British Army personnel of World War I Wales Rugby Union officials Rugby union players from Neath Alumni of St Catharine's College, Cambridge Neath RFC players