George Rosser Evans (6 October 1867 - ?)
Scrum.com was an 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 ...

half-back who played club rugby for

Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...

and international rugby 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 ...

. Rosser is notable for facing the touring New Zealand Māoris, the first touring Southern Hempishere rugby team, when they lost to Cardiff in 1888.

Rugby career

Evans is most notable as a rugby player through his association with Cardiff RFC. Rosser was part of the Cardiff team that on 29 December 1888, faced and beat the

New Zealand Māori rugby union team New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

.Billot (1972), pg 21. After losing to Wales, the Māoris returned strongly beating both Newport and

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 ...

. The final match in the Welsh leg of the tour was against Cardiff, captained by

Frank Hill Frank Robert Hill (21 May 1906 – 28 August 1993) was a Scottish association football, football player and manager. Playing career Forfar and Aberdeen Hill was born in Forfar and started his career at Forfar Athletic F.C., Forfar Athletic, jo ...

. An early try by

Norman Biggs Norman Witchell Biggs (3 November 1870 – 27 February 1908) was a Welsh international rugby union wing who played club rugby for Cardiff and county rugby for Glamorgan. Both Biggs and his brother Selwyn played international rugby for Wales ...

and some dodging running from Charlie Arthur saw Cardiff beat the Māoris by a goal to nil. At the time, the Wales half-back pairing was taken by Evans' Cardiff team-mate

William Stadden William James Wood "Buller" Stadden (1861 –30 December 1906) was a Welsh international rugby union half back who played club rugby for Canton, Cardiff and Dewsbury. Stadden won eight caps for Wales over a period of seven years and is mo ...

and Newport's Charlie Thomas; both men representing Wales in the victory over the New Zealand tourists. Stadden though was unavailable for the

1889 Home Nations Championship The 1889 Home Nations Championship was the seventh series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Three matches were played between 2 February and 2 March. It was contested by Ireland, Scotland and Wales. England were excluded from the Ch ...

and Rosser took his place alongside Thomas in an away game to Scotland at

Raeburn Place Raeburn Place is the main street of the suburb of Stockbridge, Edinburgh, Scotland, and the name of the playing fields there. Rugby The first ever international rugby football game was played on the playing fields at Raeburn Place on 27 Ma ...

.Griffiths (1987), pg 4:4. The Welsh team were beaten two tries to nil and the next game, at home against Ireland, Evans was replaced by

Llanelli Llanelli ("St Elli's Parish"; ) is a market town and the largest community in Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed, Wales. It is located on the Loughor estuary north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. ...

half-back

Giotto Griffiths Griffith 'Giotto' Griffiths (15 September 1864 – 22 July 1938) was a Welsh international rugby union half-back who played club rugby for Llanelli and international rugby for Wales. Rugby career Griffiths came to note as a rugby player when ...

. It would be Evans one and only international cap.

International matches played

WalesSmith (1980), pg 465. * 1889

Bibliography

* * * *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, Rosser 1867 births Cardiff RFC players Rugby union halfbacks Rugby union players from Aberdare Wales international rugby union players Welsh rugby union players Year of death missing