THE STORY OF SWANSEA RFC
DURING THE GREAT WAR
Capped v NZ Army : Evan Rees (d), Tom Parker (d)
(d) = International debut, (c) = captain of international side.
Fixtures were cancelled during the hostilities of World War 1 and did not resume until the 1919/20 season.
An international match was played at Cardiff Arms Park on 17 April 1915 between nominal England v Wales sides. Players were nearly all serving members of the armed forces.It was an unofficial (non capped) match. The ‘Wales’ team included 3 Swansea players, namely, Edgar Morgan, Bryn Lewis and Tom Parker.
Above: the teams that played the wartime uncapped international at Cardiff (Courtesy: Ellis Rugby)
Above: WRU plaque commemoratingWelsh international players who died in the Great War and also in the Second World War. The plaque is situated on the wall at the entrance to the Queen’s box at Cardiff Millennium Stadium (photo ‘Dragon Tales Rugby’)
Above: The memorial plaque for members of the Swansea Cricket & Football Club who were killed in the Great War. Formerly at the centre line in the old grandstand, it is now situated in the St Helens Bar at the club (Club Archive)
Wales also played the New Zealand Army Team on 21 April 1919 at St Helens (capped game).