William Henry Evans (9 February 1892 - c. 1979) 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 peopl ...

international centre who played club rugby for Llwynypia and Penygraig. He won four caps for Wales playing in all four matches of the

1914 Five Nations Championship The 1914 Five Nations Championship was the fifth series of the rugby union Five Nations Championship following the inclusion of France into the Home Nations Championship. Including the previous Home Nations Championships, this was the thirty-secon ...

Personal history

Evans was born in 1892 in Tonypandy in the Rhondda Valley during its period of industrial growth. He became a collier, a common occupation in the coal rich valley. With the outbreak of the First World War he served his country as a member of the Welch Regiment. He died circa 1979 in Bryncethin.

Rugby career

Evans first came to prominence as a rugby player while he was playing for local team Llwynypia RFC. He was first capped for Wales when he was selected for the opening game of the

, an away fixture at Twickenham against England. Evans was one of five new players brought into the Welsh side as the team attempted to rebuild their side, which saw Wales lose to their old rivals, 10-9. Evans earned his second cap three weeks later, laying Scotland at the Cardiff Arms Park. In a rough match Scotland lost by a heavy 24-5 result. Evans' third successive Wales appearance was a second home encounter, this time against France. Wales dominated the game and Evans scored his first and only international try, one of seven scored by Wales that day, in a convincing 31-0 victory. His final international appearance was the last of the 1914 Championship and the last international Welsh game until 1920, as the outbreak of the First World War ended international rugby. Evans; final game was seen as one of the most violent in the history of rugby, with Wales beating Ireland 11-3.

International matches played

Wales * 1914 * 1914 * 1914 * 1914

References

Bibliography

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, William 1892 births 1979 deaths Llwynypia RFC players Penygraig RFC players Rugby union centres Rugby union players from Tonypandy Wales international rugby union players Welsh rugby union players