Howell Jones
Encyclopedia
Howell Jones was a Welsh
rugby union
forward who played club rugby for Neath
and county rugby for Glamorgan. He gained just a single cap for the Wales
national team, in 1904. Jones came from a sporting family, and his son, Howie Jones, also represented Wales in rugby union.
. Like many successful players from the area, once Jones had been noticed as a rugby talent, he progressed to Neath RFC, the most notable club in the region. In the 1903/04 season, Neath made Jones the captain of the Neath senior XV. As captain of Neath Jones was selected for his one and only international appearance, playing for Wales in the country's final game of the 1904 Home Nations Championship
. Wales had already played England and Scotland, registering a draw and a win, meaning a win over Ireland would give Wales the possibility of winning the Championship. The Welsh selectors had brought in new capped players throughout the campaign and the final game was no exception. Jones was one of three players who were representing Wales for the first time during the Irish game and the tenth of the tournament. All three new caps were in the forward positions, and Jones was joined by Newport's Charlie Pritchard
and Sid Bevan
from Swansea
. The game ended controversially, with the match referee blames for allowing Ireland a try
from an illegal forward pass, and then denying Welsh wing Dick Jones
a winning try. Wales finished the 1904 Championship in second and Jones was never selected to play for Wales again.
Jones came from a sporting family, and his brothers Bill and Ivor both played for the Neath first XV. Bill, like Jones, captained Neath, but he held the position for three seasons from 1910 to 1913. Jones' son, Elwyn Howel "Howie" Jones like his father played for Neath, but also represented Swansea and Aberavon
; and in 1930
played in two Welsh internationals.
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...
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 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...
and county rugby for Glamorgan. He gained just a single cap for the 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...
national team, in 1904. Jones came from a sporting family, and his son, Howie Jones, also represented Wales in rugby union.
Rugby career
Jones first played rugby for his local school before joining GlynneathGlynneath RFC
Glynneath RFC are a Welsh Rugby Union club playing in Division Three South West of the WRU National Leagues. The Club has win a number of honours over the years, including the locally famous Invincibles of the 1961-62 season captained by Bas Thomas....
. Like many successful players from the area, once Jones had been noticed as a rugby talent, he progressed to Neath RFC, the most notable club in the region. In the 1903/04 season, Neath made Jones the captain of the Neath senior XV. As captain of Neath Jones was selected for his one and only international appearance, playing for Wales in the country's final game of the 1904 Home Nations Championship
1904 Home Nations Championship
The 1904 Home Nations Championship was the twenty-second series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 9 January and 19 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.-Table:-Results:...
. Wales had already played England and Scotland, registering a draw and a win, meaning a win over Ireland would give Wales the possibility of winning the Championship. The Welsh selectors had brought in new capped players throughout the campaign and the final game was no exception. Jones was one of three players who were representing Wales for the first time during the Irish game and the tenth of the tournament. All three new caps were in the forward positions, and Jones was joined by Newport's Charlie Pritchard
Charlie Pritchard
Captain Charlie Pritchard was a Welsh international rugby union player. He was a member of the winning Welsh team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks. He played club rugby for Newport RFC and county rugby for Monmouthshire.-Rugby career:...
and Sid Bevan
Sid Bevan
Thomas Sydney "Sid" Bevan was a Welsh rugby union player who represented Wales and the British Lions. Bevan played club rugby for Swansea, joining the club in 1897.-Rugby career:...
from Swansea
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...
. The game ended controversially, with the match referee blames for allowing Ireland a try
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...
from an illegal forward pass, and then denying Welsh wing Dick Jones
Dick Jones (rugby player)
Richard Hughes "Dick" Jones was a Welsh international fly-half who played club rugby for Swansea Rugby Club. He won 15 caps for Wales and played county rugby for Glamorgan.-Rugby career:...
a winning try. Wales finished the 1904 Championship in second and Jones was never selected to play for Wales again.
Jones came from a sporting family, and his brothers Bill and Ivor both played for the Neath first XV. Bill, like Jones, captained Neath, but he held the position for three seasons from 1910 to 1913. Jones' son, Elwyn Howel "Howie" Jones like his father played for Neath, but also represented Swansea and 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...
; and in 1930
1930 Five Nations Championship
The 1930 Five Nations Championship was the sixteenth 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 forty-third series of the annual northern hemisphere rugby...
played in two Welsh internationals.