- Gwyn Nicholls
Infobox Rugby biography
name = Gwyn Nicholls
caption = Gwyn Nicholls in Welsh colours
birthname = Erith Gwyn Nicholls
nickname =
birthyear = 1874
birthmonth = 07
birthday = 15
placeofbirth =Westbury-on-Severn ,England
deathyear = 1939
deathmonth = 03
deathday = 24
placeofdeath =Dinas Powys ,Wales
height =
weight =
ru_position = Centre
ru_amateuryears = 1891-18921892-18931893-190119011901-1906
ru_amateurclubs = Cardiff StarCardiff HarlequinsCardiff RFC Newport RFC Cardiff RFC
ru_amclubcaps =
ru_amclubpoints =
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalteam = flagicon|WALWalesflagicon|GBR British Isles
ru_nationalyears = 1896-19061899
ru_nationalcaps = 244
ru_nationalpoints = (13) [ [http://www.wru.co.uk/12750_14256.php?player=26193&includeref=dynamic Welsh Rugby Union player profiles] ] (6)
ru_ntupdate =
ru_coachclubs =
ru_coachyears =
ru_coachupdate =
other =
occupation =
spouse = Emmeline Nicholls (nee Thomas)
children = Ivor Nicholls
relatives =Bert Winfield (brother in law)
school = Howard Gardens
university =
url =Erith Gwyn Nicholls (July 15 1874 [ [http://www.blackandambers.co.uk/Personnel.aspx?pr=104202 Newport RFC player profiles] ] - March 24 1939) was a Welsh
rugby union player who gained 24 caps for Wales as a centre. Nicholls was known as the "Prince of Threequarters".Smith (1980), pg 128.]Born in Westbury-on-Severn, Nicholls started his rugby career with Cardiff StarParry-Jones (1999), pg 26.] before playing in the Cardiff first team from 1893. He spent all his playing career with Cardiff, playing 18 seasons for them, apart from half a season with Newport in 1901-02 when he began a laundry business there with fellow Welsh international
Bert Winfield . He captained Cardiff for two seasons; 1898/1899 and 1900/1901.International career
Nicholls gained his first international cap against Scotland on January 25 1896, a solid if not spectacular debut.Parry-Jones (1999), pg 36.] His next few games gained him praise and Nicholls began to get more notice from the local press,Parry-Jones (1999), pg 36-37.] Nicholls international career was placed on pause for twelve months during 1897 and 1898 while Wales were excluded from playing because of the Gould Affair.Parry-Jones (1999), pg 37.]
His 24 caps for Wales were won between 1896 and 1906 and included ten matches as captain. He was captain of the Triple Crown winning side of 1902. Despite announcing his retirement from international rugby at the end of the previous season, he returned to captain Wales in the famous 1905 victory against New Zealand. He toured
Australia with the British Isles team of 1899, and was the only Welsh player on this tour.International matches played for WalesSmith (1980), pg 469.]
* England 1897, 1898, 1899, 1901, 1902, 1904, 1906
* Ireland 1896, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1905, 1906
* New Zealand 1905
* Scotland 1896, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1906
* South Africa 1906Later life and death
In 1923, Nicholls while on holiday in
Weston-super-Mare was involved in a rescue attempt involving two young girls.Parry-Jones (1999), pg 202.] The two girls had been swept out to sea by the undertow and a Doctor Edward Holborow had leapt into the sea to save them. Although the two girls were saved by another swimmer, Dr. Holborow found the rough conditions too challenging, and Nicholls attempted to rescue him. Nicholls reached the doctor and got him close to the shore but Holborow was pronounced dead at the scene. Nicholls only managed to reach shore himself and his health never recovered from the ordeal.Parry-Jones (1999), pg 203.] On March 24 1939, Nicholls died in Dinas Powys, heart failure was given as the cause of death.Parry-Jones (1999), pg 209.]On Boxing Day 1949 the "Gwyn Nicholls Memorial Gates" were officially opened at
Cardiff Arms Park by his team mateRhys Gabe . On November 16 2005 Gwyn Nicholls was inducted into theInternational Rugby Hall of Fame .External links
*cite web| url=http://www.rugbyhalloffame.com/pages/nicholls2005.htm |title=Gwyn Nicholls |publisher=rugbyhalloffame.com |accessdate=2007-08-20
*cite web| url=http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s-NICH-GWY-1875.html |title=NICHOLLS, ERITH GWYN |publisher=Welsh Biography Online |accessdate=2007-08-20 |last=Williams |first=Moelwyn
*cite web| url=http://www.blackandambers.co.uk/Personnel.aspx?pr=104202 |title=Gwyn Nicholls |publisher=blackandambers.co.uk |accessdate=2007-08-20Bibliography
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