David Jones (rugby player born 1881)

Infobox Rugby biography
name = David Jones


caption =
birthname = David Jones
nickname = Tarw, Dai Jones
birthyear =
birthmonth =
birthday =
placeofbirth = Aberaman, [ [http://www.aberdareonline.org.uk/archive/content/public/history/sporting_greats/aberaman_rugby_football_club/index.html Ameravan Rugby Foorball Club profile] ] Wales
deathyear =
deathmonth =
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placeofdeath = Aberdare, Wales
height = 185.5 cm
weight = 98 kg
ru_position = Forward
ru_amateuryears = ???-1902
1902-1906
1906-1907
ru_amateurclubs = Treherbert RFC
Aberdare RFC
Treherbert RFC
ru_amclubcaps =
ru_amclubpoints =
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalteam = flagicon|WAL Wales
ru_nationalyears = 1902-1906
ru_nationalcaps = 13
ru_nationalpoints = (0)
ru_ntupdate =
ru_coachclubs =
ru_coachyears =
ru_coachupdate =
other =
occupation = collier
police officer
landlord
spouse =
children =
relatives =
school =
university =
url =

David 'Tarw' Jones (1881-1933) (also known as Dai Jones) was a Welsh international rugby union and rugby league player. He was a member of the winning Welsh team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks in a game considered one of the greatest in the history of rugby union. Jones is the only Welsh player to have been part of a team to have beaten the All Blacks in the union and league gamecite web | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/01/03/srabou403.xml | title=A real pro - 100 years ago
publisher=The telegraph | author=Brendan Gallagher | date=2008-01-02 | accessdate=2008-06-20] and is the first dual-code international rugby player from the Northern Hempisphere.

David Jones gained his nickname Tarw (Welsh for bull) from his imposing stature; standing at 6’1’’ and weighing almost 16 stone. A collier from Treherbert who later became a policeman before becoming a collier once more, he played club rugby as a forward for Treherbert RFCSmith (1980), pg 136.] and then later Aberdare, before switching back to Treherbert. In his later life he was caught in a scandal which saw him banned from rugby union and forced his switch to rugby league.

International career

Jones was one of a line of players chosen from clubs in the South Wales valleys to bolster the Welsh forward pack. His first international game was at the age of 20 against EnglandDavies (1980), pg 136.] after impressing during a trial at Treherbert in 1901Thomas (1979), pg 36.] and he would represent his country on another twelve occasions. Jones was a powerful man with a heavy tackle and was used as an impact player; although recognised as a lock forward his international career saw him play in several positions including one game where he was given the number 8 shirt against Ireland in 1905. [ [http://www.newportgwentdragons.com/Personnel.aspx?pr=113762 Newport Gwent Dragons player profiles] ] Jones was part of a very succusseful Welsh team and was part of two Triple Crown winning sides.

The greatest moment in Jones' international career came in 1905 when he was chosen to face 'The Original' All Blacks in the New Zealanders first tour. The All Blacks had already played 27 games without loss, defeating the best British county and club teams as well as the England, Scottish and Irish national teams. Wales were the present Triple Crown holders and undefeated in the last year and the game was built into a major contest by the press, some going as far as calling it "The Game of the Century". Although reported as limping earlier in the week, ["Prince Gwyn, Gwyn Nicholls and the First Golden Era of Welsh Rugby", David Parry-Jones (1999) pg147. ISBN 1854112627] Jones played his part in a hard fought game, and along with Arthur Harding followed a clear tactical game to give Wales a clear advantage. The All Blacks had proven incredibly strong in their previous games in their scrummage tactics, using seven men instead of the usual eight, but using a wedge formation to force their opponents back and then use the additional man to great advantage when the ball was eventually released. Harding had played the All Blacks earlier in the tour, when he faced them with county side Middlesex, and this insight may have explained the Welsh tactic. The Welsh also used a seven man scrummage pack, but with Jones and Harding staying mobile behind the pack switching sides to prevent the wedge push. The Welsh would eventually win by the narrowest of margins, 3-0. [ [http://www.rugbyrelics.com/Museum/exhibits/WvNZ.htm Rugby Relics website] ]

Jones would play his last rugby union game for Wales against South Africa in 1906. As part of the Glamorgan County side, Jones had played very well in the sides narrow loss to the South Africans; but in the international he looked tired and ragged, and his normal excellent scrummaging was poor. He retired from the field early, his Wales union career over at the age of just 25.

=International rugby union careerSmith (1980), pg 467.] =

* 1902, 1903, 1905, 1906
* 1902, 1903, 1905
* 1905
* 1902, 1903, 1905, 1906
* 1906

candal

After Jones' international career he would find himself caught up in a scandal surrounding professionalism. Jones was thought to have returned to Treherbert after his weekly payment from Aberdare was cut from 10 to 5 shillings. An ex-secretary of Aberdare told the press that Jones had received payment from the club. In 1907, after an investigation from the Welsh Rugby Union, Jones was banned from playing rugby union for life.Davies (1980), pg 180.]

Dual rugby code international

Dai would later join professional league teams for Treherbert and Merthyr and made national representative appearances for Wales in rugby league. His appearance in the first ever full international played against a visiting southern hemisphere side - the New Year's day 1908 Test against the All Golds at Aberdare saw him become Wales' first and one of history's first ever dual-code rugby internationals.

Later life

Jones became a publican and ran two pubs, the Eagle Hotel in Aberdare and the Castle Hotel in Treherbert. He would later fight in World War I as a member of the Welsh Guards [cite web | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/01/03/srabou403.xml | title=A real pro - 100 years ago
publisher=The telegraph | author=Brendan Gallagher | date=2008-01-02 | accessdate=2008-06-20] but was injured badly at the Battle of the Somme.Smith (1980), pg 163.] In 1933 David Jones died in Aberdare, South Wales.

Bibliography

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References

* [http://www.wru.co.uk/12750_14256.php?player=26061&includeref=dynamic WRU player profile]