Elwyn Gwyther (8 March 1921 - 21 March 1996) was a Welsh

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

and professional

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Wales XV, and at club level for

Llanelli RFC Llanelli Rugby Football Club ( cy, Clwb Rygbi Llanelli) is a Welsh rugby union club founded on 30 March 1872. The club's historic home ground was Stradey Park in Llanelli, but they moved in 2008 to the new Parc y Scarlets in adjacent Pembert ...

, as a

prop A prop, formally known as (theatrical) property, is an object used on stage or screen by actors during a performance or screen production. In practical terms, a prop is considered to be anything movable or portable on a stage or a set, distinct ...

, i.e. number 1 or 3, and representative level rugby league (RL) for

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

and

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

, and at club level for Belle Vue Rangers and

Leeds Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by populati ...

, as a .

Background

Elwyn Gwyther's birth was registered in

Gower Peninsula Gower ( cy, Gŵyr) or the Gower Peninsula () in southwest Wales, projects towards the Bristol Channel. It is the most westerly part of the historic county of Glamorgan. In 1956, the majority of Gower became the first area in the United Kingdom ...

district, Wales.

Playing career

Club career

Gwyther played in Belle Vue Rangers' 7–10 defeat by

Wigan Wigan ( ) is a large town in Greater Manchester, England, on the River Douglas, Lancashire, River Douglas. The town is midway between the two cities of Manchester, to the south-east, and Liverpool, to the south-west. Bolton lies to the nor ...

in the

1947 Lancashire Cup It was the first year of the Cold War, which would last until 1991, ending with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Events January * January–February – Winter of 1946–47 in the United Kingdom: The worst snowfall in the country in ...

Final during the 1947–48 season at

Wilderspool Stadium Wilderspool Stadium was a rugby league stadium in Warrington, England. The ground was Warrington RLFC's old ground before moving to the Halliwell Jones Stadium. History In 1898, Warrington RLFC moved to the Wilderspool Stadium. A 10-year lea ...

Warrington Warrington () is a town and unparished area in the borough of the same name in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, on the banks of the River Mersey. It is east of Liverpool, and west of Manchester. The population in 2019 was estimat ...

on Saturday 1 November 1947. Gwyther was signed by Leeds in October 1952. In September 1954, he returned to Belle Vue Rangers.

International honours

Elwyn Gwyther represented Wales XV (RU) while at Llanelli RFC in the 'Victory International' non- Test match(es) between December 1945 and April 1946, and won

cap A cap is a flat headgear, usually with a visor. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head. They made their first appearance as early as 3200 BC. Caps typically have a visor, or no brim at all. They are popular in casual and informal se ...

s for

(RL) while at Belle Vue Rangers, and Leeds 1947–1953 15-caps, and won

s for

(RL) while at Belle Vue Rangers in 1947 against New Zealand (2 matches), in 1950 against Australia (3 matches); and in 1951 against New Zealand. Six rugby league footballers represented Wales XV (RU) while at rugby league clubs, they were;

Tyssul Griffiths Tyssul "Tuss" Griffiths (6 June 1919 – 25 August 1978) was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played representative level rugby union for Wales XV, and at club level for Newpor ...

, Elwyn Gwyther,

Gomer Hughes Gomer Hughes (13 May 1910 – ) was a Welsh dual-code international rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s and 1940s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Wales and Wales XV, and at club l ...

Hugh Lloyd-Davies Rheinallt Hugh Lloyd-Davies (1925–1986) was a Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Wales XV, at university for Cambridge University RFC, and ...

, Harold Thomas and

Leslie Thomas Leslie Thomas, OBE (22 March 1931 – 6 May 2014) was a Welsh author best known for his comic novel ''The Virgin Soldiers''. Early life Thomas was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales. He was orphaned at the age of 12, when his mariner fath ...

. Gomer Hughes, and Harold Thomas had previously won Wales (RU) caps, but the other footballers hadn't, and having already changed to the rugby league code they were unable to do so, but Tyssul Griffiths, Elwyn Gwyther, Leslie Thomas, did go on to win Wales (RL) caps.

References

External links

* *(archived by web.archive.org
Britain hold out Kiwis at OdsalMen of League - Robert L. SeddonWelsh stars still had a rugby ball in wartimePicture Elwyn GwytherElwyn Gwyther
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gwyther, Elwyn 1921 births 1996 deaths Broughton Rangers players Footballers who switched code Great Britain national rugby league team players Leeds Rhinos players Llanelli RFC players People from Glamorgan Rugby league players from Swansea Rugby league props Rugby union players from Swansea Wales national rugby league team players Welsh rugby league players Welsh rugby union players