Dai Evans
Encyclopedia
David "Dai" Evans was a Welsh
international rugby union
forward who played club rugby for Penygraig
and international rugby for Wales
.
Evans was born in Maenclochog
, Pembrokeshire
, but came to the Rhondda Valley
to find work. A policeman by profession, Evans was one of the first 'Rhondda forwards', an aggressive style of forward player who was expected to play a more physical style game.
. Originally a collier, Evans became a police officer in 1892 and his size and strength typified the style of forward player the Welsh selectors turned to in the late 19th century. The previous game, the Championship opener against England, saw the first 'Rhondda forward' when Sam Ramsey
of Treorchy
was selected. Evans played club rugby for neighbouring team Penygraig, and was the first international cap for the club.
Evans was one of five new caps to be brought into the pack for the 1896 game against Scotland, after Wales had suffered a heavy defeat away to England. Wales beat Scotland 6-0, and Evans was reslected to face Ireland for the last game of the tournament. Played at Lansdowne Road
, the new Welsh forward play was no match for the Irish kick-and-rush tactics which saw Ireland win 4-8. Despite the defeat, Evans was back for the only match of the 1897 Championship
, in a tournament disrupted by Wales leaving the IRB
due to the The Gould Affair. The one game Wales played was against England, and Evans played in a pack with Rhondda players Dick Hellings
and Jack Rhapps
. The game ended with the largest win for Wales over England.
When Wales were accepted back into the IRB in 1898, Evans found his place in the Welsh team taken by Joseph Booth
; but he was reinstated for his last appearance in the final match of the tournament against England. Evans' reintroduction by the selectors was seen by the English press as an attempt to intimidate the England team. Whether this was intentional or not, the result ended in an English victory, and the end of Evans' international career, being replaced by Jere Blake
the next season. He died in 1912, at the age of 39 from tuberculosis
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
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...
forward who played club rugby for Penygraig
Penygraig RFC
Penygraig Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team based in Penygraig, Wales. Penygraig RFC formed in 1877, one of the earlier rugby clubs to emerge, and by 1890's were a strong voice in the Welsh Rugby Union, one of four clubs from the Rhondda Valley that held WRU representation.-Early...
and international rugby for Wales
Wales 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...
.
Evans was born in Maenclochog
Maenclochog
Maenclochog is a small village in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales. It lies at the south of the Preseli Hills, about one mile southeast of the village of Rosebush.Researchers believe to have found the remains of a 13th Century castle at Maenclochog...
, Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
, but came to the Rhondda Valley
Rhondda
Rhondda , or the Rhondda Valley , is a former coal mining valley in Wales, formerly a local government district, consisting of 16 communities built around the River Rhondda. The valley is made up of two valleys, the larger Rhondda Fawr valley and the smaller Rhondda Fach valley...
to find work. A policeman by profession, Evans was one of the first 'Rhondda forwards', an aggressive style of forward player who was expected to play a more physical style game.
Rugby career
Evans first came to note as a rugby player when he was selected to face Scotland as part of the 1896 Home Nations Championship1896 Home Nations Championship
The 1896 Home Nations Championship was the fourteenth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 4 January and 14 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.-Table:-Results:...
. Originally a collier, Evans became a police officer in 1892 and his size and strength typified the style of forward player the Welsh selectors turned to in the late 19th century. The previous game, the Championship opener against England, saw the first 'Rhondda forward' when Sam Ramsey
Sam Ramsey
Samuel "Sam" Ramsey was a Scottish-born rugby union forward who played club rugby for Treorchy and international rugby for Wales...
of Treorchy
Treorchy RFC
Treorchy Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team from the village of Treorchy, in the Rhondda Valley, Wales. They formed in 1886 and by 1891 were a strong voice in the Welsh Football Union and were playing in the Rhondda Division...
was selected. Evans played club rugby for neighbouring team Penygraig, and was the first international cap for the club.
Evans was one of five new caps to be brought into the pack for the 1896 game against Scotland, after Wales had suffered a heavy defeat away to England. Wales beat Scotland 6-0, and Evans was reslected to face Ireland for the last game of the tournament. Played at Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts...
, the new Welsh forward play was no match for the Irish kick-and-rush tactics which saw Ireland win 4-8. Despite the defeat, Evans was back for the only match of the 1897 Championship
1897 Home Nations Championship
The 1897 Home Nations Championship was the fifteenth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Four matches were played between 9 January and 13 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales...
, in a tournament disrupted by Wales leaving the IRB
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
due to the The Gould Affair. The one game Wales played was against England, and Evans played in a pack with Rhondda players Dick Hellings
Dick Hellings
Richard 'Dick' Hellings was an English born rugby union forward who played international rugby for Wales and club rugby for Llwynypia. Hellings was noted for his strength built from years cutting coal as a Rhondda miner...
and Jack Rhapps
Jack Rhapps
John "Jack" Rhapps was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Penygraig and international rugby for Wales...
. The game ended with the largest win for Wales over England.
When Wales were accepted back into the IRB in 1898, Evans found his place in the Welsh team taken by Joseph Booth
Joseph Booth (rugby player)
Joseph "Joe" Booth was a Welsh-born rugby union forward who originally played club rugby for Pontymister and international rugby for Wales. Booth later joined West Hartlepool R.F.C...
; but he was reinstated for his last appearance in the final match of the tournament against England. Evans' reintroduction by the selectors was seen by the English press as an attempt to intimidate the England team. Whether this was intentional or not, the result ended in an English victory, and the end of Evans' international career, being replaced by Jere Blake
Jere Blake
John "Jere" Blake was a Welsh rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff and international rugby for Wales. He was part of the 1900 Wales Triple Crown winning team.-Rugby career:...
the next season. He died in 1912, at the age of 39 from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
.