Fred Scrine (25 March 1877 – 8 August 1962) 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 peop ...

international

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 ...

flanker who played club rugby for

Swansea Swansea (; cy, Abertawe ) is a coastal city and the second-largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Swansea ( cy, links=no, Dinas a Sir Abertawe). The city is the twenty-fifth largest in ...

. Scrine's style of play was as a fast spoiling playerSmith (1980), pg 115. and was first capped for

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 ...

in 1899 against England.

Rugby career

born, Scrine played most of his rugby for first class team Swansea Rugby Football Club. He was selected to play for Wales in the

1899 Home Nations Championship The 1899 Home Nations Championship was the seventeenth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 5 January and 18 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The 1899 Championship w ...

, and was selected alongside fellow Swansea players

Billy Bancroft William James Bancroft (2 March 1871 – 3 March 1959) was a Welsh international fullback, who played club rugby for Swansea, and a county cricketer for Glamorgan, for whom he was the first professional player in 1895. Bancroft was seen as o ...

, Tom Parker and the 'Curly haired marmosets',

David David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

and Evan James. In the first international at Swansea's ground, St Helens, for four years Wales beat England with some ease. Scrine had a solid game and set upSmith (1980), pg 118.

Willie Llewellyn William Morris "Willie" Llewellyn (1 January 1878 – 12 March 1973) was a Welsh international rugby union player. He captained Wales in 1905 and London Welsh in 1902. He was a member of the winning Welsh team who beat the 1905 touring All Black ...

for his third try during the game. Scrine was back two months later in the same tournament, but this time against Scotland. The Scottish won 21–10, and Scrine was not recalled for the final match against Ireland. He would get his day against the Irish two years later when selected again for a game at St Helens. Wales won the game, but Scrine was not selected again, as a new wave of exciting players jostled for selection. In 1905 Scrine was part of the Swansea team to face the

Original All Blacks The Original All Blacks (also known simply as "The Originals") were the first New Zealand national rugby union team to tour outside Australasia. They toured the British Isles, France and the United States of America during 1905–1906. Their op ...

, and scored a try against the tourist, though the All Blacks won through 4–3.Smith (1980), pg 169. In 1906, Scrine was part of a players' revolt at his club side Swansea, over the nature of professionalism, and managed to change the club rules.Smith (1980), pg 125. Scrine would later clash with the WRU in 1907, when as part of an investigation into professionalism at

Aberdare Aberdare ( ; cy, Aberdâr) is a town in the Cynon Valley area of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, at the confluence of the Rivers Dare (Dâr) and Cynon. Aberdare has a population of 39,550 (mid-2017 estimate). Aberdare is south-west of Merthyr Tyd ...

and

Treorchy Treorchy ( cy, Treorci; ) is a town and community (and electoral ward) in Wales. Once a mining town, it retains such characteristics. Situated in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf in the Rhondda Fawr valley. Treorchy is also one of the 16 c ...

, Scrine was temporarily suspended for breaking union payment laws.Smith (1980), pg 180.

International matches played

WalesSmith (1980), pg 471. * 1899 * 1901 * 1899

Bibliography

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scrine, Fred 1877 births 1962 deaths Welsh rugby union players Wales international rugby union players Rugby union scrum-halves Rugby union players from Swansea Swansea RFC players