Tom Clapp (25 October 1858 – 15 October 1933) was an

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-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 ...

forward who played club rugby for Newport and Nantyglo RFC. He won 14 caps 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 ...

and captained the team on three occasions. Clapp was the first Newport player to captain Wales.

Rugby career

Born in

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in 1858, but raised in

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,Parry-Jones (1999), pg 36. Clapp's family moved to

Nantyglo Nantyglo () is a village in the ancient parish of Aberystruth and county of Monmouth situated deep within the South Wales Valleys between Blaina and Brynmawr in the county borough of Blaenau Gwent. Governance An electoral ward in the same n ...

when he was still in his youth. Clapp would play his early rugby for

Blaina Blaina ( cy, Blaenau ) is a small town, situated deep within the South Wales Valleys between Brynmawr and Abertillery in the unitary authority of Blaenau Gwent, ancient parish of Aberystruth, preserved county of Gwent and historic county o ...

before moving to Nantyglo RFC. In 1883 he moved to first class team Newport and Clapp made an impression on the club as in the 1884/85 and the 1885/86 seasons he was made team captain. In May 1888 Clapp left Welsh rugby behind and emigrated to the

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following his brother David who left a year earlier. In 1920 both brothers were citrus fruit farmers in

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International career

Clapp gained his first cap in 1882 against Ireland, a game in which he scored a try. The next two games, against England and Scotland, were his last for Nantyglo. Clapp would represent Wales in 14 matches and on 12 March 1887 he captained Wales at Birkenhead Park against Ireland. Wales won the game due to a

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being worth a single point, as they were out scored 3 tries to one, but a drop goal from Arthur Gould gave the visitors the win. Clapp retained the captaincy for the next match against Scotland, and led his country in their first win against the Scottish team. His next game against Ireland, on 3 March 1888, would not only be his last as captain, but his last in the Welsh shirt.

International matches played

WalesSmith (1980), pg 464. * 1883, 1884, 1885, 1887 * 1882, 1884, 1887, 1888 * 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888

Bibliography

* *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clapp, Tom 1858 births 1933 deaths Blaina RFC players English rugby union players Newport RFC players Rugby union fullbacks Rugby union players from Marylebone Wales international rugby union players Wales rugby union captains