Major Thomas Henry Vile MBE (6 September 1882 – 30 October 1958) was a Welsh international
rugby union player. He played club rugby predominantly for
Newport
Newport most commonly refers to:
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Places Asia
*Newport City, Metro Manila, a Philippine district in Pasay
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Ireland
*Newport, County Mayo, a town on the ...
, captaining the side twice and played county rugby for Monmouthshire. He also represented the British Isles in Australia, and after retiring from playing became an international referee. He fought in both World Wars, became a president of the
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU; cy, Undeb Rygbi Cymru) is the Sports governing body, governing body of rugby union in the country of Wales, recognised by the sport's international governing body, World Rugby.
The WRU is responsible for the running ...
, was a
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...
, businessman and
High Sheriff of Monmouthshire
This is a list of Sheriffs of Monmouthshire, an office which was created in 1536 but not fully settled until 1540.
On 1 April 1974, under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, the shrievalty of Monmouthshire was abolished, and replaced ...
.
Club career
Vile took part in a trial for Newport in 1900 at the age of 17 and despite his slight build was chosen as a forward. Due to injuries to other players, Vile got his chance and was accepted into the Newport ranks and in 1902 made his first-class debut for the club. During the 1903/04 season he became the club's regular scrum-half. Vile was a master of the reverse pass and was also a strong kicker who scored many drop goals for his club.
In 1909 he was made captain of Newport and showed himself as a great offensive tactician; and in the 1911/12 season lead his team to the Club Championship. In 1912, Vile alongside team partner
Walter Martin were impressive in the match against the touring South Africans, which saw Newport win 9–3.
International career
Wales
Vile made his debut for
Wales against England in 1908, mainly due to injuries to the
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 ...
pairing of
Dicky Owen and
Dick Jones.
[Thomas (1979), pg49] Vile was reportedly very nervous before the match as fog had descended and reduced visibility to 50 yards; and Vile presumed the game would be abandoned, allowing Owen time to recover and regain his place. Although Vile played well, when Owen and Jones were fit they were the first choice pairing for the Welsh selectors, and it wasn't until Owen declined to play in 1912 that Vile got a regular place in the Welsh squad.
After a terrible display against England in 1913 Vile was dropped by the selectors, but, surprisingly, was reselected after the First World War to captain Wales against Scotland in 1921 at the age of 37.
[Thomas (1979), pg50]
British Isles
In 1904 Vile was chosen to tour
Australasia[Smith (1980), pg 148.] under the captaincy of
Bedell-Sivright. Vile would play in three tests for Britain but strangely it would take him another four years until he was called up to represent his own country.
[Smith (1980), pg 131.]
International games played
Wales
[Smith (1980), pg 472.]
* 1908, 1913
* 1910, 1912
* 1912
* 1908, 1921
* 1912
British Isles
* 1904 (3rd Test)
* 1904
International referee career
After the end of his playing career, Vile became a referee and in 1923 refereed his first international rugby match, between Scotland and France. In total he would referee 12 internationals between 1923 and 1931.
Military service
In World War II, Vile was a lieutenant in the
Royal Artillery and during World War II reached the rank of major serving in the
Intelligence Corps. At the end of the war he was appointed
High Sheriff of Monmouthshire
This is a list of Sheriffs of Monmouthshire, an office which was created in 1536 but not fully settled until 1540.
On 1 April 1974, under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, the shrievalty of Monmouthshire was abolished, and replaced ...
for 1945.
Bibliography
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References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vile, Tommy
1882 births
1958 deaths
Barbarian F.C. players
Blackheath F.C. players
British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Wales
British Army personnel of World War I
British Army personnel of World War II
High Sheriffs of Monmouthshire
Intelligence Corps officers
London Welsh RFC players
Members of the Order of the British Empire
Monmouthshire County RFC players
Newport RFC players
Pill Harriers RFC players
Royal Artillery officers
Rugby union players from Newport, Wales
Rugby union scrum-halves
Wales international rugby union players
Wales rugby union captains
Wales Rugby Union officials
Welsh rugby union players
Welsh rugby union referees