Beynon, Ben

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Born : 14 March 1894, Swansea

Died : 21 May 1969, Guildford

Position : Stand-off

Major Teams : Swansea, Wales.

Wales Caps : 2. Points : 0.

Born on 14th March 1894, Ben Beynon first played for Swansea RFC on 28 Nov 1914 and last on 17 Apr 1922. In 1914-15 he joined Swansea Town Football Club (soccer) following the cessation of rugby in 1914 due to the war. He served in the Welsh regiment, 38th (Welsh) Division in the Great War and toured with their rugby team in Wales in 1919. Rejoining Swansea RFC, he was leading try scorer (with 9) and leading points scorer (with 47) in the 1919-20 season. Capped twice for Wales at Stand off in 1920 v England and Scotland, he was denied his caps as the WRU withheld them on the arguament that he'd played professionally for Swansea Town (soccer) in 1920.He then left for the Town's football Club, never to play Union again. He scored the goal for Swansea Town that knocked Blackburn Rovers out of the FA Cup in 1915 (Rovers finished that season 3rd in Div I). He also scored a hat trick for Swansea Town at the Vetch Field in 1920 v Norwich. Joining Oldham RLFC in sept 1922, in Rugby league he won a Challenge Cup medal with that Club in 1925. His first Wales cap in 1920 in the Union game was at St Helens against England on 17th January 1920 making him Wales' 300th player to be capped in a 19 points to 5 win. His other cap was a month later on 17th Feb 1920 against Scotland in Edinburgh where Wales lost 5 - 9. He was a docker, then a painter and decorator by trade. He died 21st may 1969 in Swansea. Ben Beynon was the first Swansea player to play Rugby Union (Swansea RFC) League (Oldham RLFC) and Assocition Football (Swansea Town FC).