St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future

PH214

Photographic triptych B&W, mounted. Welsh matches in the Home nations Championship of 1921 season. Dimensions: w31 1/40" x h10" (w79cm x h25.55cm)

Photograph

CIC

1920-1921

This triptych of match photographs illustrates Welsh participation in the rugby Home Nations Championship of 1921. The first (left) image is probably Swansea and Wales outside-half W E (Billy) Bowen who played for Swansea from 1919 to 1922, before 'going north' to join Leeds RLFC in 1922. In this image he is clearly in Swansea kit (navy shorts/white jersey) and at a club game. Bowen won 6 Welsh caps (1921-1922) in the Union game as a Swansea player, making his debut against Scotland at St Helen's on 5th February 1921. Wales lost the match 8 - 14 on a day that was remembered for the vast crown that encroached onto the pitch during play. The match was nearly abandoned, mounted police having to be employed to push the crowd back. This can be seen in the third photo, the Swansea pavilion clearly visible in the background. The central image is of England versus Wales at Twickenham on 15th January 1921. The 18 - 3 defeat was their worst result against England since the 1890s. In the central photograph Arthur Blakiston and Ernest Gardner are named, as is Tom Voyce (on the ground with ball). Swansea players involved in the 1921 Home nations matches were: England v Wales: Joe Rees (full-back), Tom Parker (forward); Wales v Scotland: Joe Rees, Billy Bowen (DEBUT outside-half), Tom Parker; Wales v France: Tudor Williams (DEBUT scrum-half), Billy Bowen, Tom Parker (WALES CAPTAIN); Ireland v Wales: Joe Rees, Tom Parker (WALES CAPTAIN).

PH214.jpg, PH214a.jpg, PH214b.jpg, PH214c.jpg