Edward Treharne
Encyclopedia
Edward Llewellyn Treharne (22 March 1862 - 29 December 1904) was a Welsh
rugby union
forward who played club rugby for Pontypridd
and Cardiff
, and international rugby for Wales
. He is most notable for being a member of the first Wales international
team that played England
in 1881. At the time of the game he was still a student at Cowbridge, and later became a medical student at St Bartholomew's Hospital
.
, a fact reiterated by the 1862 birth register. On rugby website Scrum.com, his birthplace is given as Ystradyfodwg
, the old parish which once contained what is now the Rhondda
. Both facts may be correct as the Merthyr Tydfil registration district during Victorian times contained the parish of Ystradyfodwg. His father, David Treharne, was a land agent in Merthyr. Due to the boom in coal prospecting, David Treharne became wealthy, and later moved to the Rhondda where he built a house in Pentre, called Pentre House. Edward Treharne was the third child of six, his elder siblings all boys, his younger siblings all girls.
Treharne was educated at Cowbridge Grammar School
he later studied medicine ar St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College
. He became a Doctor of Medicine, and was prominent in local politics. He was the president of Cadoxton Junior Conservative Club, a was a member of both the Barry Lodge of Freemasons and Barry District Council. He was married to Margaret Louise, and they had at least two children. His youngest son, Leslie Llewellyn Treharne died of wounds in France, during the First World War on 24 September 1915.
Treharne died at home in Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan in 1904 at the age of 42. The cause of death was recorded as a heart attack; Treharne having been told eighteen months prior that he was suffering from an enlargement of the heart, and that he was not to over exhert himself.
formed the first Welsh rugby union team in 1881, Treharne was one of the youngest members contacted to join the side. At the time he was living in Pontypridd
, and is reported to have played for the club from 1880; but Treharne was still studying for Cowbridge Grammar School when the Welsh game took place. The match against England was a one-sided affair, with Wales losing by a massive seven goals, a drop goal and six tries to nil. One reason put forward to the difference in quality between the sides was that several members of the Welsh team were put into unfamiliar positions. Treharne himself, normally a full-back, was placed into the pack, though his speed did make him the most prominent of the Welsh forwards.
When Treharne was reselected for Wales as part of the 1883 Home Nations Championship
he was playing for Pontypridd. Under the captaincy of Charles Lewis
, Treharne faced England for a second time. Wales lost the match, but not as heavily as their first meeting, and the selectors only dropped two players for the next game; Cardiff's James Clare
and Treharne.
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...
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...
forward who played club rugby for Pontypridd
Pontypridd RFC
Pontypridd Rugby Football Club, known as Ponty, are a rugby union team from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, currently playing in the British and Irish Cup, Principality Premiership, and are the current SWALEC Cup champions....
and Cardiff
Cardiff RFC
Cardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union football club based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park where they have been based ever since...
, and international rugby 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...
. He is most notable for being a member of the first Wales international
1880-81 Home Nations rugby union matches
The 1880-81 Home Nations rugby union matches were a series of international rugby union friendlies held between the England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales national rugby union teams. This season is most notable for the introduction of Wales as an international rugby union nation, playing their first...
team that played England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
in 1881. At the time of the game he was still a student at Cowbridge, and later became a medical student at St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital, also known as Barts, is a hospital in Smithfield in the City of London, England.-Early history:It was founded in 1123 by Raherus or Rahere , a favourite courtier of King Henry I...
.
Personal history
Treharne was born in Glamorganshire, Wales in 1862. In John M. Jenkins 1991 book Who's Who of Welsh International Rugby Players his place of birth is stated as Merthyr TydfilMerthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
, a fact reiterated by the 1862 birth register. On rugby website Scrum.com, his birthplace is given as Ystradyfodwg
Ystradyfodwg
Ystradyfodwg was an ancient upland parish in Glamorganshire, Wales. It is believed to have been named after Tyfodwg who was either a 7th century saint or chieftain....
, the old parish which once contained what is now the Rhondda
Rhondda
Rhondda , or the Rhondda Valley , is a former coal mining valley in Wales, formerly a local government district, consisting of 16 communities built around the River Rhondda. The valley is made up of two valleys, the larger Rhondda Fawr valley and the smaller Rhondda Fach valley...
. Both facts may be correct as the Merthyr Tydfil registration district during Victorian times contained the parish of Ystradyfodwg. His father, David Treharne, was a land agent in Merthyr. Due to the boom in coal prospecting, David Treharne became wealthy, and later moved to the Rhondda where he built a house in Pentre, called Pentre House. Edward Treharne was the third child of six, his elder siblings all boys, his younger siblings all girls.
Treharne was educated at Cowbridge Grammar School
Cowbridge Grammar School
Cowbridge Grammar School was one of the best-known schools in Wales until its closure in 1974. It was replaced by a comprehensive school.Founded in the 17th century by Sir John Stradling and refounded by Sir Leoline Jenkins, it had close links with Jesus College, Oxford. The school took both...
he later studied medicine ar St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College
St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital, also known as Barts, is a hospital in Smithfield in the City of London, England.-Early history:It was founded in 1123 by Raherus or Rahere , a favourite courtier of King Henry I...
. He became a Doctor of Medicine, and was prominent in local politics. He was the president of Cadoxton Junior Conservative Club, a was a member of both the Barry Lodge of Freemasons and Barry District Council. He was married to Margaret Louise, and they had at least two children. His youngest son, Leslie Llewellyn Treharne died of wounds in France, during the First World War on 24 September 1915.
Treharne died at home in Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan in 1904 at the age of 42. The cause of death was recorded as a heart attack; Treharne having been told eighteen months prior that he was suffering from an enlargement of the heart, and that he was not to over exhert himself.
Rugby career
When Richard MullockRichard Mullock
Richard Mullock was a Welsh sporting administrator and official, who is most notable for organising the first Welsh rugby union international game and was instrumental in the creation of the Welsh Football Union, which became the Welsh Rugby Union in 1934...
formed the first Welsh rugby union team in 1881, Treharne was one of the youngest members contacted to join the side. At the time he was living in Pontypridd
Pontypridd
Pontypridd is both a community and a principal town of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales and is situated 12 miles/19 km north of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff...
, and is reported to have played for the club from 1880; but Treharne was still studying for Cowbridge Grammar School when the Welsh game took place. The match against England was a one-sided affair, with Wales losing by a massive seven goals, a drop goal and six tries to nil. One reason put forward to the difference in quality between the sides was that several members of the Welsh team were put into unfamiliar positions. Treharne himself, normally a full-back, was placed into the pack, though his speed did make him the most prominent of the Welsh forwards.
When Treharne was reselected for Wales as part of the 1883 Home Nations Championship
1883 Home Nations Championship
The 1883 Home Nations Championship was the inaugural series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Five matches were played between 16 December 1882 and 3 March 1883...
he was playing for Pontypridd. Under the captaincy of Charles Lewis
Charles Lewis (rugby player)
Charles Prytherch Lewis was a Welsh international rugby union player, who won five caps between 1882 and 1884.-Life:...
, Treharne faced England for a second time. Wales lost the match, but not as heavily as their first meeting, and the selectors only dropped two players for the next game; Cardiff's James Clare
James Clare
James Arthue Clare was an English-born international rugby union three-quarter who played club rugby for Cardiff Rugby Football Club and international rugby for Wales...
and Treharne.