Arthur Bassett
Encyclopedia
Arthur Bassett was a Welsh
dual-code international rugby union
and professional rugby league
footballer who represented Wales at both rugby union
and rugby league
codes. Bassett played club rugby for several union teams, including Maesteg
, Neath
, Glamorgan Police RFC
, Aberavon RFC
, Cardiff
, and later switching to professional football in 1939 playing at club level for Halifax
, and later played for York
, and Great Britain
, playing at , i.e. number 2 or 5. His brother, Jack Bassett
, was also an international rugby union player.
(RU) in 1934 against England, in 1935 against England, Scotland, and Ireland, and in 1938 against England, and Scotland, won caps for Wales
(RL) while at Halifax 1939…1946 3-caps, and won caps for Great Britain
(RL) while at Halifax in 1946 against Australia (2 matches). He scored a hat-trick of tries in Great Britain's victory over Australia at Brisbane in 1946
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
dual-code international rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer who represented Wales at both rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
codes. Bassett played club rugby for several union teams, including Maesteg
Maesteg RFC
Maesteg Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team from the town of Maesteg, South Wales. The club presently play in the Welsh Rugby Union Division One West and is a feeder club for the Ospreys.-Club history:...
, Neath
Neath RFC
Neath Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. The club's home ground is The Gnoll, Neath. The first team is known as the Welsh All Blacks because of the team colours: black with only a white cross pattée as an emblem...
, Glamorgan Police RFC
Glamorgan Police RFC
Glamorgan Police RFC was a Welsh rugby union team that that served the Glamorgan Police force before the emalgamation of the four district police forces of South Wales in 1969...
, Aberavon RFC
Aberavon RFC
Aberavon RFC is a rugby union club located in the Welsh town of Port Talbot, although the club's name refers to the older settlement of Aberavon which lies on the western side of the town...
, Cardiff
Cardiff RFC
Cardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union football club based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park where they have been based ever since...
, and later switching to professional football in 1939 playing at club level for Halifax
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
, and later played for York
York City Knights
York City Knights Rugby League Club is a British professional rugby league club hailing from York. They play at the Huntington Stadium, situated to the north of York city centre...
, and Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
, playing at , i.e. number 2 or 5. His brother, Jack Bassett
Jack Bassett
Jack Bassett was a Welsh international rugby union full back who played club rugby for Penarth. He won 15 caps for Wales and was selected for the 1930 British Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand...
, was also an international rugby union player.
International honours
Arthur Bassett won caps for WalesWales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
(RU) in 1934 against England, in 1935 against England, Scotland, and Ireland, and in 1938 against England, and Scotland, won caps for Wales
Wales national rugby league team
The Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
(RL) while at Halifax 1939…1946 3-caps, and won caps for Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
(RL) while at Halifax in 1946 against Australia (2 matches). He scored a hat-trick of tries in Great Britain's victory over Australia at Brisbane in 1946