Thomas Haigh Judson (9 July 1857 – 4 September 1908) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

-born 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 ...

player who played club rugby for

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. ...

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 ...

.Wales Rugby Union player profiles
/ref> He later became a member of the first

London Welsh London Welsh Rugby Football Club ( cy, Clwb Rygbi Cymry Llundain) was a rugby union club formed in 1885. Based in Old Deer Park, Richmond-upon-Thames, London Welsh RFC played in the English Premiership in the 2012–13 and 2014–15 seasons, ...

team.

Rugby career

Judson won his first international cap when, as a member of the first class team Llanelli, he was selected to play in the inaugural Home Nations Championship against England. Under the captaincy of Charles Lewis, Judson was one of three Llanelli players in the Wales squad, the others being

Alfred Cattell Alfred Cattell (27 April 1857 – 10 September 1933) was an English-born international rugby union player for Wales who in his later life became Lord Mayor of Sheffield. As a rugby player Cattell represented Oxford UniversityJenkins (1991), ...

and Harry Bowen. Wales was competent, but unspectacular, and was out-classed by the Australian wing

Charles Wade Sir Charles Gregory Wade KCMG, KC, JP (26 January 1863 – 26 September 1922) was Premier of New South Wales – 21 October 1910. According to Percival Serle, "Wade was a public-spirited man of high character. His ability, honesty and coura ...

in a four tries and two goals to nil loss. Judson was reselected for his second and final international game, against Scotland, as part of the same Championship. This was the first meeting between the two nations, and was played 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 ...

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

. Wales lost by three goals to one, but Judson scored the Welsh try, making him the first ever try scorer against Scotland for his country. In 1885, Judson was living in London and on 24 June was present at meeting which saw the creation of Welsh exile club, London Welsh. Judson was elected club treasurer,Jones (1985), pg 3. and, on 25 October 1885, a London Welsh team faced London Scottish with Judson was amongst the Welsh forwards.Jones (1985), pg 6. Later that year, he was part of a joint London Welsh / London Scottish team that faced a London XV, in a charity match at

The Oval The Oval, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Kia Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, located in the borough of Lambeth, in south London. The Oval has been the home ground of Surrey County Cricket Club since ...

to benefit the London poor. The match was watched by a crowd of 8,000 and among the spectators was the

Prince of Wales Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the rulers ...

.Jones (1985), pg 8.

International matches played

Wales (rugby union)Smith (1980), pg 468. * 1882 * 1883

Bibliography

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Judson, Thomas 1857 births 1908 deaths English rugby union players English schoolteachers Llanelli RFC players London Welsh RFC players Rugby union forwards Sportspeople from Ashton-under-Lyne Rugby union players from Greater Manchester Wales international rugby union players Welsh rugby union players