St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future

JY005

England jersey of Vic Roberts from Wales v England at St Helen's on 26th January 1951. White with English rose emblem on breast. No number on back.

Jersey

CIC

Vic Roberts

1950-1951

This is the England jersey worn by England captain Vic Roberts from Wales v England at St Helen's on 20th January 1951.Wales won the match 23 - 5. Roberts played for England from 1947 to 1956, making 16 appearances for his country. A Cornishman, at club level he played for Penryn RFC in Cornwall and played briefly for Swansea in 1950-51 before a lengthy career with Harlequins. Roberts played on the 1950 'Lions' tour to New Zealand and Australia. He also played for the Barbarians for whom he later became Vice President. Vic Roberts was a customs officer by profession and, though his natural environment was performing those duties at sea, he did become Senior Customs Officer at Heathrow Airport. It was his work that carried him to Swansea for a brief career there. Vic Roberts played for the Swansea 1st XV against London Welsh (won 32 – 3) at St Helen’s on 27th December 1950 and against Cardiff away (lost 6 – 19) on 27th January 1951. It was in between these two dates that he played for England against Wales at St Helen’s on 20th January 1951 making him an ‘honorary’ Swansea representative on the international field of play that day, albeit only a temporary one, for he never played for the ‘All Whites’ again and was rightly listed as a Penryn player in the England team. 27 Dec. 1950 at St Helen’s Vic Roberts played alongside Clem Thomas for Swansea v London Welsh. (32-3). 21 Jan 1956 at Twickenham Roberts played opposite Clem Thomas for England v Wales. (3-8).
A final Swansea/England connection that can be made is that on 20th Jan 1951 Roberts, in playing for England at St Helen’s became the first player to be capped by England while also playing for Swansea.

jersey, engalnd, st helen's, vic roberts, 1950-1951, 1951,