William Stadden
Encyclopedia
William James Wood "Buller" Stadden (1861 - 30 December 1906) was a Welsh
international rugby union
half back who played club rugby for Cardiff
and Dewsbury
. Stadden won eight caps for Wales
over a period of seven years and is most remembered for scoring the winning try in 1890 to give Wales their first victory over England. He died in Dewsbury, in tragic circumstances.
against Ireland in 1884 under the captaincy of Joe Simpson
in the Home Nations Championship
. Stadden scored a drop goal on his debut and along with tries
from William Norton
and Tom Clapp
, gave Wales their first win on Welsh soil. Stadden was not selected for the next tournament, but regained his position in 1886
playing in both matches of the series against England and Scotland. Wales lost both games, but Stadden managed to score again, this time with a try, in the opening match over England.
In September 1886, Stadden, along with fellow Cardiff team-mate Angus Stuart
, left Cardiff for Dewsbury in West Yorkshire
, pleading that there were no employment prospects for him in Wales. Though it was later discovered that he was working for a textile company part-owned by the Dewsbury club's President.
Staddens' last season at Cardiff was the year when, under the captaincy of Frank Hancock
, Cardiff perfected the quick passing ‘four three-quarter system’. The team won 26 of their 27 games and scored 131 tries whilst conceding only four. He continued to play for Wales and for Yorkshire. He was the first Welsh player to be bought by an English club and he evolved into a star player in Yorkshire, which was the best team in England at the time.
Stadden's next two matches for Wales were against Ireland as part of the 1887 Championship
, partnered with John Goulstone Lewis
, and Scotland in 1888
with Cardiff team-mate Jem Evans
; both were Welsh wins. Towards the end of 1888, Wales hosted their first oversea's tourists when the New Zealand Native team
visited Britain. Under the captaincy of Frank Hill
, Stadden partnered Charlie Thomas
in a Welsh win over the Māori team. Stadden's last games for Wales both came in the 1890 Home Nations Championship
, the first was a loss to Scotland at the Cardiff Arms Park
, the second was Wales' first ever win over England. Stadden was the Welsh hero of the match after scoring the only point of the game played in England at Dewsbury. Early in the second half, Stadden took a line out and motioned that he was going to throw the ball long. The Welsh and England lines both shuffled back expecting a long throw, for Stadden to bounce the ball into the ground close to his feet, regathering the ball he rushed passed two defending players to score the winning try. Bouncing the ball from the line out was banned under IRB
rules in 1906.
code on 3 September 1898, William Stadden would have been approximately 37 years of age. Consequently, he may have been both a rugby union and rugby league footballer for Dewsbury.
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...
half back who played club rugby for 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 Dewsbury
Dewsbury Rams
Dewsbury Rams RLFC is a professional rugby league club based in the West Yorkshire town of Dewsbury. They are arguably most famous for becoming Champions in 1972-73 after finishing the regular season in 8th place. In the playoffs they beat Featherstone away, Warrington away, and then Leeds in the...
. Stadden won eight caps 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...
over a period of seven years and is most remembered for scoring the winning try in 1890 to give Wales their first victory over England. He died in Dewsbury, in tragic circumstances.
Rugby career
Stadden made his debut 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...
against Ireland in 1884 under the captaincy of Joe Simpson
Joe Simpson (rugby player)
Henry Joseph 'Joe' Simpson Henry Joseph 'Joe' Simpson Henry Joseph 'Joe' Simpson ESPN Scrum.com was an English-born international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff Rugby Football Club and international rugby for Wales...
in the Home Nations Championship
1884 Home Nations Championship
The 1884 Home Nations Championship was the second series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 5 January and 12 April 1884...
. Stadden scored a drop goal on his debut and along with 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...
from William Norton
William Norton (rugby player)
William Barron Norton was a Welsh international rugby union three-quarter who played club rugby for Cardiff Rugby Football Club and international rugby for Wales. He was awarded six caps for Wales.- Rugby career :...
and Tom Clapp
Tom Clapp
Tom Clapp was an English-born international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Newport and Nantyglo RFC. He won 14 caps for Wales and captained the team on three occasions...
, gave Wales their first win on Welsh soil. Stadden was not selected for the next tournament, but regained his position in 1886
1886 Home Nations Championship
The 1886 Home Nations Championship was the fourth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Five matches were played between 2 January and 13 March 1886. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales...
playing in both matches of the series against England and Scotland. Wales lost both games, but Stadden managed to score again, this time with a try, in the opening match over England.
In September 1886, Stadden, along with fellow Cardiff team-mate Angus Stuart
Angus Stuart
Angus John Stuart also known as Angus Stewart was a Scottish-born rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff and Dewsbury. Although never capped at international level in his own country, in 1888 Stuart was chosen to tour New Zealand and Australia as part of the first British Isles team...
, left Cardiff for Dewsbury in West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, pleading that there were no employment prospects for him in Wales. Though it was later discovered that he was working for a textile company part-owned by the Dewsbury club's President.
Staddens' last season at Cardiff was the year when, under the captaincy of Frank Hancock
Frank Hancock
Francis Escott "Frank" Hancock was an English-born rugby union centre who played club rugby for Somerset and Cardiff and international rugby for Wales. Hancock is best known as being the sport's first fourth threequarter player, which changed the formation of rugby union play that lasts to the...
, Cardiff perfected the quick passing ‘four three-quarter system’. The team won 26 of their 27 games and scored 131 tries whilst conceding only four. He continued to play for Wales and for Yorkshire. He was the first Welsh player to be bought by an English club and he evolved into a star player in Yorkshire, which was the best team in England at the time.
Stadden's next two matches for Wales were against Ireland as part of the 1887 Championship
1887 Home Nations Championship
The 1887 Home Nations Championship was the fifth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 8 January and 12 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales....
, partnered with John Goulstone Lewis
John Goulstone Lewis
John "Johnny" Goulstone Lewis was a Welsh international rugby union half-back who played club rugby for Llanelli and international rugby for Wales...
, and Scotland in 1888
1888 Home Nations Championship
The 1888 Home Nations Championship was the sixth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Three matches were played between 4 February and 10 March. It was contested by Ireland, Scotland and Wales. England was excluded from the Championship due to their refusal to join the...
with Cardiff team-mate Jem Evans
Jem Evans
Owen James 'Jem' Evans was a Welsh rugby union half-back who played club rugby for Cardiff and international rugby for Wales...
; both were Welsh wins. Towards the end of 1888, Wales hosted their first oversea's tourists when the New Zealand Native team
1888-1889 New Zealand Native football team
The 1888–1889 New Zealand Native football team was a New Zealand football team that toured Britain, Australia and New Zealand in 1888 and 1889. The team was composed mainly of players of Māori ancestry, although several Pakeha were included in the squad. The tour was a private endeavour, and was...
visited Britain. Under the captaincy of Frank Hill
Frank Hill (rugby player)
Frank Hill was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff. Hill won 15 caps for Wales over a period of ten years and was given the team captaincy on four occasions....
, Stadden partnered Charlie Thomas
Charlie Thomas (rugby player)
Charles 'Charlie' Thomas was a Welsh international rugby union utility player who played club rugby for Newport and invitational rugby for the Barbarians. Thomas won nine caps for Wales.-Rugby career:...
in a Welsh win over the Māori team. Stadden's last games for Wales both came in the 1890 Home Nations Championship
1890 Home Nations Championship
The 1890 Home Nations Championship was the eighth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 1 February and 15 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.-Table:-Results:...
, the first was a loss to Scotland at the Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park , also known as The Arms Park, is primarily known as a rugby union stadium, but it also has a bowling green, and is situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. The Arms Park was host to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958, and hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World...
, the second was Wales' first ever win over England. Stadden was the Welsh hero of the match after scoring the only point of the game played in England at Dewsbury. Early in the second half, Stadden took a line out and motioned that he was going to throw the ball long. The Welsh and England lines both shuffled back expecting a long throw, for Stadden to bounce the ball into the ground close to his feet, regathering the ball he rushed passed two defending players to score the winning try. Bouncing the ball from the line out was banned under 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...
rules in 1906.
Change of Code
When Dewsbury converted from the rugby union code to the rugby leagueRugby 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...
code on 3 September 1898, William Stadden would have been approximately 37 years of age. Consequently, he may have been both a rugby union and rugby league footballer for Dewsbury.