Dai Hiddlestone
Encyclopedia
David 'Dai' Hiddlestone (14 June 1890-16 November 1973) was a Welsh
international rugby union
player who played club rugby for Neath
. He was capped five times for Wales
and was notable for leading an ill-advised response to the New Zealand Haka
during the team's 1924 tour
.
, Carmarthenshire
, where he played his early rugby with local club, Hendy RFC
. After the end of World War I he joined Llanelli
a first class team within Welsh club rugby. He left Llanelli under poor circumstances, some sources stating that Hiddlestone was considered "too dirty" for the club, though at the time of leaving the club he was the present team captain, a position elected by the club members. Whatever the reason for his leaving Llanelli, Hiddlestone was accepted to play for Neath. In 1922 he was first selected to represent Wales as part of the Home Nations Championship
in a game against England. The Welsh team he joined had many new caps, including Swansea's
Islwyn Evans
and Frank Palmer, Bridgend's Bobby Delahay
and William Cummins
from Treorchy
. Led by Tom Parker
, Wales over-ran the English team, scoring a record eight tries
against England; Hiddlestone himself not only scored one of the tries, but is also credited as being the central linchpin in the Welsh attack that won the game so comfortably.
Hiddlestone played in all three of the remaining matches of the 1922 tournament, which saw Wales win the championship. The team beat Ireland and France, and it was only a draw with Scotland that prevented the team taking the Grand Slam
title. Hiddlestone was replaced in the 1923 Championship
by Gwilym Michael, but at the end of the 1924 season he was reselected for the Welsh team to face the touring New Zealanders. Although not selected as captain of the Welsh team, Hiddlestone decided to lead the team in a response to the All Black's Haka, similar to Teddy Morgan
leading the national anthem in 1905. Hiddlestone chose to lead the Welsh team in a responsive "War-dance", which was seen as offensive and mocking towards the New Zealand team. During the game the Wales captain, Jack Wetter
, took a heavy blow from George Nepia
and was forced to play the end of the game, out of position, in the pack. Hiddlestone was pushed out as an extra-back to cover his captain. New Zealand outclassed the Welsh team, winning 19-0, and Hiddlestone never represented Wales again.
Although out of favour with Wales, Hiddlestone was given the captaincy of Neath over the 1924/25 season. After his retirement from playing rugby, Hiddlestone became a rugby referee and officiated the joint Aberavon
/ Neath team when they faced the 1935 New Zealand tourists.
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...
player who played club rugby for 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...
. He was capped five times 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...
and was notable for leading an ill-advised response to the New Zealand Haka
Haka of the All Blacks
The Haka is a traditional Maori war dance from New Zealand. There are thousands of Haka that are performed by various tribes and cultural groups throughout New Zealand. The best known Haka of them all is called "Ka Mate". It has been performed by countless New Zealand teams both locally and...
during the team's 1924 tour
The Invincibles (rugby union)
The Invincibles was a nickname given to the 1924-25 New Zealand rugby union team which toured the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Canada. The team was captained by Cliff Porter, and numbered among its top players George Nepia and brothers Cyril and Maurice Brownlie.Between September 1924 and...
.
Rugby career
Hiddlestone was born in HendyHendy
Yr Hendy is a village in the community of Llanedi, Carmarthenshire, Wales, situated on the border between Carmarthenshire and Swansea. Yr Hendy lies on the Afon Gwili just across the River Loughor from the town of Pontarddulais and, together with Fforest to its north, forms part of the continuous...
, Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
, where he played his early rugby with local club, Hendy RFC
Hendy RFC
Hendy Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team from the village of Hendy in West Wales. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Llanelli Scarlets....
. After the end of World War I he joined Llanelli
Llanelli RFC
Llanelli Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club founded in 1875 and its senior team is one of the leading club sides in Wales. The club began the 2008-09 season at their historic home ground of Stradey Park in Llanelli, but moved in November 2008 to the new Parc y Scarlets in adjacent...
a first class team within Welsh club rugby. He left Llanelli under poor circumstances, some sources stating that Hiddlestone was considered "too dirty" for the club, though at the time of leaving the club he was the present team captain, a position elected by the club members. Whatever the reason for his leaving Llanelli, Hiddlestone was accepted to play for Neath. In 1922 he was first selected to represent Wales as part of the Home Nations Championship
1922 Five Nations Championship
The 1922 Five Nations Championship was the eighth 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-fifth series of the annual northern hemisphere rugby...
in a game against England. The Welsh team he joined had many new caps, including Swansea's
Swansea RFC
Swansea Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. Its home ground is St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. The team is sometimes known as The Whites because of the primary colour of the team strip...
Islwyn Evans
Islwyn Evans
Haydn Islwyn Evans was a Welsh international rugby union player who played club rugby union for Swansea and Llanelli. Evans was capped four times for Wales, all during the 1922 Five Nations Championship.-Rugby career:...
and Frank Palmer, Bridgend's Bobby Delahay
Bobby Delahay
William James 'Bobby' Delahay was a Welsh international rugby union who played club rugby for Bridgend and Cardiff...
and William Cummins
William Cummins
William 'Will' Cummins was a Welsh international rugby union player who played club rugby union for Treorchy and was capped four times for Wales, all during the 1922 Five Nations Championship.-Rugby career:...
from 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...
. Led by Tom Parker
Tom Parker (rugby player)
Tom Parker was a Welsh international rugby union flanker who played club rugby for Swansea. Parker made his debut for Swansea in 1913 and captained his club in the 1920/21 season Parker would play 15 times for Wales, seven of them as captain...
, Wales over-ran the English team, scoring a record eight tries
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
against England; Hiddlestone himself not only scored one of the tries, but is also credited as being the central linchpin in the Welsh attack that won the game so comfortably.
Hiddlestone played in all three of the remaining matches of the 1922 tournament, which saw Wales win the championship. The team beat Ireland and France, and it was only a draw with Scotland that prevented the team taking the Grand Slam
Grand Slam (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, a Grand Slam occurs when one team in the Six Nations Championship manages to beat all the others during one year's competition...
title. Hiddlestone was replaced in the 1923 Championship
1923 Five Nations Championship
The 1923 Five Nations Championship was the ninth 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-sixth series of the annual northern hemisphere rugby...
by Gwilym Michael, but at the end of the 1924 season he was reselected for the Welsh team to face the touring New Zealanders. Although not selected as captain of the Welsh team, Hiddlestone decided to lead the team in a response to the All Black's Haka, similar to Teddy Morgan
Teddy Morgan
Edward "Teddy" Morgan was a Welsh international rugby union player. He was a member of the winning Wales team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks and is remembered for scoring the winning try...
leading the national anthem in 1905. Hiddlestone chose to lead the Welsh team in a responsive "War-dance", which was seen as offensive and mocking towards the New Zealand team. During the game the Wales captain, Jack Wetter
Jack Wetter
Jack Wetter DCM was a Welsh international rugby union player who played club rugby predominantly for Newport. He was captain for both his club and country and earned 10 caps for Wales....
, took a heavy blow from George Nepia
George Nepia
George Nepia was a Māori rugby union and rugby league player. He is remembered as an exceptional full-back and one of the most famous Māori rugby players. He was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. In 2004 he was selected as number 65 by the panel of the New Zealand's Top...
and was forced to play the end of the game, out of position, in the pack. Hiddlestone was pushed out as an extra-back to cover his captain. New Zealand outclassed the Welsh team, winning 19-0, and Hiddlestone never represented Wales again.
Although out of favour with Wales, Hiddlestone was given the captaincy of Neath over the 1924/25 season. After his retirement from playing rugby, Hiddlestone became a rugby referee and officiated the joint Aberavon
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...
/ Neath team when they faced the 1935 New Zealand tourists.