John Evans (rugby player)

John Evans

Full name	John Raymond Evans
Date of birth	12 September 1911
Place of birth	Newport,[1] Wales
Date of death	8 March 1943 (aged 31)
Place of death	Tunisia, North Africa
School	Newport High School
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Hooker
Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team
1929-1930 1930-1937 1935-1936	Chiltern RFC,London Welsh RFC Newport RFC Barbarian F.C.
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1934	Wales[2]	1	(0)

John Raymond Evans (12 September 1911 – 8 March 1943) was a Welsh international rugby union hooker who played club rugby for Newport. Evans joined Newport after showing promise as a Welsh Schools players, winning three caps while at Newport High School. Evans captained Newport on two occasions, once in 1935/36 season and again in 1936/37. In 1935 Evans captained Newport against the touring New Zealand team.

Evans made his one and only international appearance against England in the 1934 Home Nations Championship, and was given the captaincy. He was one of 13 new caps to play for Wales, with only Claude Davey and Dai Thomas with any past international experience. Wales came a poor second, losing 9-0. The selectors were severely criticized for their choice, not only because of the teams inexperience, but also because seven of the team played their rugby outside Wales. Evans was one of five players from the Welsh team that day that became one cap wonders.

Evans was killed in action while serving his country in North Africa during the Second World War.^[3]

International matches played

Wales^[4]

•  England 1934

Bibliography

• Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.

References

1. Newport RFC player profiles
2. WRU player profiles
3. CWGC entry
4. Smith (1980), pg 465.

80 seasons at Amersham and Chiltern RFC