Bill Everson
Encyclopedia
William Aaron "Bill" Everson (15 March 1906 – 26 April 1966) was a Welsh
international rugby union
fullback who played club rugby for Newport and was capped for Wales
in 1926. Despite only winning a single international cap, he was a pivotal member for Newport and a record breaking club player.
, Newport Police and Pill Harriers
before switching to Newport during the 1925/1926 season. In his first season for the club he played in 30 matches, scoring 90 points; which was enough to draw him to the attention of the Welsh selectors. He played just a single game for Wales, the encounter with Scotland as part of the 1926 Five Nations Championship
. Played at Murrayfield, Everson was brought in as a replacement for Swansea's
David Evans, but when Wales lost the game, Everson was never chosen to represent his countrt again. Despite the loss, Everson did score his only international points during the game when he converted Ron Herrera's try
.
Although Everson failed to achieve another cap for Wales, his record at Newport continued to improve. Over the 12 seasons he represented the club, from 1925 to 1937, he played in 314 matches scoring 856 points, including 245 conversions and 111 penalties. His points scored was a club record, which remained unbroken until 1962. Everson was also given the captaincy of the senior team on two occasions, in the 1930/31 season, and again in 1933/34. While with Newport he faced one international touring team, the 1927 Waratahs.
With his playing career behind him, Everson continued his connection with Newport by becoming a committee member. He was also instrumental in setting up Wales' first rugby sevens
tournament, the Snelling Sevens
. The competition recognised his commitment to its founding when the Bill Everson Award was set up after Everson's death in 1966. The trophy was awarded to the player of the tournament, and its recipients included Barry John
, J.J. Williams
, Jonathan Davies and Robert Howley.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
international rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
fullback who played club rugby for Newport and was capped for Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
in 1926. Despite only winning a single international cap, he was a pivotal member for Newport and a record breaking club player.
Rugby career
Everson played for MachenMachen RFC
Machen Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club based in Machen near the city of Newport. Machen RFC is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons....
, Newport Police and Pill Harriers
Pill Harriers RFC
Pill Harriers RFC are a Welsh rugby union club based in Newport in South Wales. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons..-Club origins:...
before switching to Newport during the 1925/1926 season. In his first season for the club he played in 30 matches, scoring 90 points; which was enough to draw him to the attention of the Welsh selectors. He played just a single game for Wales, the encounter with Scotland as part of the 1926 Five Nations Championship
1926 Five Nations Championship
The 1926 Five Nations Championship was the twelfth series of the rugby union Five Nations Championship following the inclusion of France into the Home Nations Championship. Including the previous Home Nations Championships, this was the thirty-ninth series of the annual northern hemisphere rugby...
. Played at Murrayfield, Everson was brought in as a replacement for Swansea's
Swansea RFC
Swansea Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. Its home ground is St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. The team is sometimes known as The Whites because of the primary colour of the team strip...
David Evans, but when Wales lost the game, Everson was never chosen to represent his countrt again. Despite the loss, Everson did score his only international points during the game when he converted Ron Herrera's try
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
.
Although Everson failed to achieve another cap for Wales, his record at Newport continued to improve. Over the 12 seasons he represented the club, from 1925 to 1937, he played in 314 matches scoring 856 points, including 245 conversions and 111 penalties. His points scored was a club record, which remained unbroken until 1962. Everson was also given the captaincy of the senior team on two occasions, in the 1930/31 season, and again in 1933/34. While with Newport he faced one international touring team, the 1927 Waratahs.
With his playing career behind him, Everson continued his connection with Newport by becoming a committee member. He was also instrumental in setting up Wales' first rugby sevens
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
tournament, the Snelling Sevens
Snelling Sevens
The Snelling Sevens was an annual Welsh Rugby Union sevens competition that ran from 1954 until 1995....
. The competition recognised his commitment to its founding when the Bill Everson Award was set up after Everson's death in 1966. The trophy was awarded to the player of the tournament, and its recipients included Barry John
Barry John
Barry John is a former Welsh rugby union fly-half who played, during the amateur era of the sport, in the 1960s and early 1970s. John began his rugby career as a schoolboy playing for his local team Cefneithin RFC before switching to first-class west Wales team Llanelli RFC in 1964...
, J.J. Williams
J.J. Williams
John James Williams , known universally as J.J. Williams, is a former Welsh rugby union player who gained thirty caps for Wales as a winger....
, Jonathan Davies and Robert Howley.