David Jones (rugby, born 1881)
David "Tarw" Jones | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1881 Tynewydd, Rhondda Valley, Wales |
| Died | 1933-01-21 Aberdare, Wales |
| Other names | Dai Jones, Tarw |
| Occupation(s) | Coal miner, policeman, publican, rugby player, soldier |
| Known for | Welsh dual-code rugby international; part of Wales team that defeated 1905 All Blacks; first to defeat New Zealand in both rugby union and league |
David "Tarw" Jones (1881–21 January 1933), also referred to as Dai Jones, was a Welsh athlete who excelled in both rugby union and rugby league at the international level. He played a key role in the Welsh squad that triumphed over the 1905 touring All Blacks in a match often celebrated as one of rugby union’s finest moments. Jones holds the distinction of being the sole Welshman to have defeated the All Blacks in both rugby codes and is recognized as the second dual-code international from the Northern Hemisphere.
His nickname, Tarw—meaning bull in Welsh—was inspired by his formidable build, standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing nearly 16 stone. Before his sporting career, Jones worked as a coal miner in Aberaman, later served as a policeman, and eventually returned to mining. His rugby union tenure saw him playing as a forward for Treherbert RFC and Aberdare RFC, before rejoining Treherbert. A subsequent controversy resulted in his ban from rugby union, which led him to transition into rugby league.
Personal history
Born in Tynewydd, a small community within the Rhondda Valley, in 1881, Jones was the son of Griffiths Jones and Catherine. As the third of five siblings, he initially pursued coal mining like his father before joining the police force. His policing career was marked by notable incidents reflecting his unorthodox nature, including forcibly removing an inspector and facing reprimand for selling raffle tickets during duty hours.
Following his retirement from competitive rugby, Jones became a publican, managing establishments such as the Eagle Hotel in Aberdare and the Castle Hotel located in Treherbert. During World War I, he served with the Welsh Guards and suffered severe injuries at the Battle of the Somme, which affected his health for life. He passed away in Aberdare in 1933.
Rugby union career
Jones rose through clubs in the South Wales valleys to become a vital component of Wales’s forward pack. He earned his first cap for Wales at age 20 in a match against England in 1901 following an impressive trial held at Treherbert. Over his career, he represented Wales thirteen times. Renowned for his strong tackling ability and adaptability, Jones mainly played as a lock but also took on the number 8 position. He was instrumental in two Welsh teams that secured the Triple Crown.
The pinnacle of his career was undoubtedly the 1905 Match of the Century versus 'The Original' All Blacks, where Wales edged out a narrow 3–0 victory. The Welsh side implemented a strategic seven-man scrum formation; Jones alongside Arthur Harding effectively disrupted New Zealand’s wedge attack—a tactic developed from Harding’s earlier encounters with the All Blacks.
Soon after this match, Jones appeared for Glamorgan County against the same New Zealand touring team. Despite fielding a weakened lineup, Jones played a central role in several key moments, although Glamorgan was defeated by three tries to none.
His last international cap came against South Africa in 1906. After displaying strong form at county level against the tourists, his performance dipped during this international fixture, leading him to retire from rugby union by age 25.
International rugby union matches
Wales
- 1902, 1903, 1905, 1906
- 1902, 1903, 1905
- 1905
- 1902, 1903, 1905, 1906
- 1906
Rugby controversy
After concluding his international playing days, Jones became embroiled in a dispute over professionalism. When his weekly wage from Aberdare was halved from 10 to 5 shillings, a former club secretary disclosed that Jones had accepted payments, breaching the amateur status regulations of rugby union. Consequently, in 1907, the Welsh Rugby Union imposed a lifetime ban on him from participating in rugby union.
International player in both rugby codes
Following his ban from rugby union, Jones transitioned to the professional league team Merthyr Tydfil RLFC and earned selection for the Wales rugby league squad. He took part in the inaugural full international match against a southern hemisphere side—the New Year's Day 1908 Test against the All Golds held in Aberdare—thereby becoming Wales' and the Northern Hemisphere's second athlete to represent his country in both rugby codes after Jack Rhapps. On a pitch nearly frozen over, Jones secured Wales' triumph by scoring a late try, marking him as the first individual to defeat New Zealand in both forms of rugby.
On 25 January 1908, Jones was chosen to play for Great Britain versus the All Golds at Headingley Stadium in Leeds, standing out as the sole player from a Welsh club on the roster. Great Britain emerged victorious with a 14–6 scoreline; Jones participated again in the second test but was left out of the third encounter. He wrapped up his international rugby league career soon after by earning a second cap for Wales in their 35–18 victory against England.
Bibliography
- Billot, John. All Blacks in Wales. Ron Jones Publications, Ferndale, 1972.
- Billot, John. Springboks in Wales. Ron Jones Publications, Ferndale, 1974.
- Haynes, John. All Blacks to All Golds. League Publications Ltd, Brighouse, 2007. ISBN 978-1-901347-17-3.
- Richards, Alun. A Touch of Glory: 100 Years of Welsh Rugby. Michael Joseph, London, 1980. ISBN 0-7181-1938-X.
- Smith, David; Williams, Gareth. Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. University of Wales Press, Cardiff, 1980. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.
- Thomas, Wayne. A Century of Welsh Rugby Players. Ansells Ltd, 1979.