Dai Edwards

For other people named David Edwards, see David Edwards (disambiguation).

David "Dai" Edwards (21 March 1896 – 24 August 1960)^[1] was an international rugby forward who played rugby union for Glynneath and rugby league with Rochdale Hornets. He won a single cap for Wales under the rugby union code and then represented his country at rugby league in two matches between 1923 and 1925.

Dai Edwards

Birth name	David Edwards
Date of birth	(1896-03-21)21 March 1896
Place of birth	Glynneath, Neath Port Talbot, Wales
Date of death	24 August 1960(1960-08-24) (aged 64)
Place of death	Glynneath, Wales
Occupation(s)	labourer, collier
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) – Neath RFC () – Glynneath RFC () – Rhigos RFC () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1921 Wales 1 (0)
Rugby league career
Playing information
Position	Forward
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P Rochdale Hornets Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1923–1925 Wales 2 0

Rugby career

Edwards' rugby career was interrupted by the outbreak of World War I, in which Edwards fought for his country serving in the Welsh Guards. On the resumption of club rugby in 1919, Edwards rejoined his local team Glynneath, and was given the captaincy of the club in the 1919/1920 season. He retained the captaincy the following season, and in 1921 he won his first and only international cap as a rugby union player.^[2] Edwards won his cap for the opening game of the 1921 Five Nations Championship, an encounter with England at Twickenham. Wales suffered from several injuries to players during the game and were comprehensively beaten. Edwards was not reselected for any of the remaining games of the tournament.

In 1921, Edwards surrendered his amateur status by joining professional rugby league team, Rochdale Hornets. His first match for the Hornets was on 27 August against Swinton.^[2] He won two rugby league caps for Wales as a rugby league international, both games against England in 1923 and in 1925. Edwards played at second-row in Rochdale Hornets' 10–9 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1922 Challenge Cup Final during the 1921–22 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 6 May 1922, in front of a crowd of 32,596.^[3] Returning to Wales in the late 1920s, he coached Rhigos RFC, until he was stopped by the Welsh Rugby Union due to his background as a professional league player. He was however allowed to play for Rhigos during the Second World War.^[2]

International matches played

Wales (rugby union)

•  England 1921

Wales (rugby league)

•  England 1923, 1925

Bibliography

• Gate, Robert (1986). Gone North: Volume 1. Ripponden: R.E. Gate. ISBN 0-9511190-0-1.
• Godwin, Terry (1984). The International Rugby Championship 1883-1983. Grafton Street, London: Willow Books. ISBN 0-00-218060-X.
• Jenkins, John M.; et al. (1991). Who's Who of Welsh International Rugby Players. Wrexham: Bridge Books. ISBN 1-872424-10-4.

References

1. Dai Edwardsrugby union player profile Scrum.com
2. Jenkins (1991), p. 49.
3. "Hornets' One And Only Challenge Cup Final Win". hornetsrugbyleague.co.uk. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.