Harry Bowcott

Infobox Rugby biography
name = Harry Bowcott


caption =
birthname = Harry Morgan Bowcott
nickname =
birthyear = 1907
birthmonth = 4
birthday = 30
placeofbirth = Cardiff [ [http://scrum.com/1200_1205.php?player=25831&includeref=dynamic Scrum.com player profiles] ] , Wales
deathyear = 2004
deathmonth = 12
deathday = 14
placeofdeath = Wenvoe, Wales [ [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/harry-bowcott-689499.html Independent Obituary] ]
height =
weight =
ru_position = Centre
ru_amateuryears = 1927-1928
ru_amateurclubs = Cambridge University R.U.F.C. Cardiff RFC London Welsh RFC
ru_amclubcaps =
ru_amclubpoints =
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalteam = Wales
Great Britain
ru_nationalyears = 1929–1933 1930
ru_nationalcaps = 8 5
ru_nationalpoints = (3) (3)
ru_ntupdate =
ru_coachclubs =
ru_coachyears =
ru_coachupdate =
other =
occupation =
spouse =
children =
relatives =
school = Cardiff High School
university = St Catharine's College, Cambridge
url =

Harry Bowcott (1907–2004) was a Welsh international centre who played club rugby for Cardiff and London Welsh and would later become president of the Welsh Rugby Union.

Club career

Bowcott was a product of the Welsh Secondary Schools Rugby Union system, playing competetive matches while still a schoolboy. Educated at Cardiff High School he was taught rugby by school's rugby coach Eric Evans.Smith (1980), pg 243.] Bowcott was part of the Wales Secondary Schools team that beat Yorkshire Schools 18-13 at Pontypridd in April 1926, playing alongside him in that young team were future Welsh internationals J.D. Bartlett and Guy Morgan.Smith (1980), pg 240.] He graduated to St Catharine's College, Cambridge and while at university was awarded the Sporting Blue playing on the winning team in the 1927 and 1928 Varsity match. Bowcott would later play for Cardiff and then London Welsh when he moved to London to become a civil servant.

Bowcott would later become a Welsh selector from 1963 to 1974, and in 1974 was made president of the Welsh Rugby Union. He died in 2004 in Wenvoe, Vale of Glamorgan at the age of 97.

International rugby career

Bowcott was first capped for Wales in 1929, while still at Cambridge, at Swansea against Scotland alongside fellow school friend Guy Morgan. The next year Bowcott was captain of Wales, and he would play for his country on eight occasions. He was also part of the famous 1933 Welsh team that finally beat England at Twickenham. Although it was Ronnie Boon who scored all the Welsh points, Bowcott's kicking during the second half of the match ensured that the English were unable to get back into the game. [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article404311.ece Harry Bowcott: Obituary, The Times] ]

Bowcott was chosen to join the Lions on their tour of New Zealand and Australia in 1930, and played in 20 of the 27 matches, including all four test matches. He was partnered at centre with Carl Aarvold, a fomer light blue.

"International matches played for Wales"Smith (1980), pg 463.]
* 1930, 1931, 1933
* 1929
* 1929, 1933
* 1929, 1931

"International matches played for Great Britain"
* 1930
* 1930, 1930, 1930, 1930

External links

* [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Glamorgan/Articles/7/7674.html Cricket Archive] Player profile of Billy Bancroft
* [http://www.swansearfc.co.uk/history_browser_view.php?image_id=522 Swansea Rugby Football Club] Player profile of Billy Bancroft

Bibliography

*

References