Elwyn Gwyther
Encyclopedia
Elwyn Gwyther is a Welsh
former rugby union
and professional rugby league
footballer of the 1940s and '50s who at representative level has played rugby union (RU) for Wales XV
, and at club level for Llanelli RFC
, playing at Prop forward, i.e. number 1 or 3, and at representative level has played rugby league (RL) for Great Britain
, and Wales
, and at club level for Belle Vue Rangers
, and Leeds
, playing at , i.e. number 8 or 10, during the era of contested scrums.
(RU) while at Llanelli RFC in the 'Victory International' non-Test match(es)
between December 1945 and April 1946, and won caps for Wales
(RL) while at Belle Vue Rangers
, and Leeds 1947...1953 15-caps, and won caps for Great Britain
(RL) while at Belle Vue Rangers
in 1947 against New Zealand (2 matches), in 1950 against Australia (3 matches); and in 1951 against New Zealand.
Six rugby league footballers represented Wales XV
(RU) while at rugby league clubs, they were; Tyssul Griffiths
, Elwyn Gwyther, Gomer Hughes
, Hugh Lloyd-Davies
, Harold Thomas
, and Leslie Thomas.
Gomer Hughes, and Harold Thomas had previously won Wales (RU) caps, but the other footballers hadn't, and having already changed to the rugby league code they were unable to do so, but Tyssul Griffiths, Elwyn Gwyther, Leslie Thomas, did go on to win Wales (RL) caps.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
former 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...
and professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1940s and '50s who at representative level has played rugby union (RU) for Wales XV
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...
, and at club level for Llanelli RFC
Llanelli RFC
Llanelli Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club founded in 1875 and its senior team is one of the leading club sides in Wales. The club began the 2008-09 season at their historic home ground of Stradey Park in Llanelli, but moved in November 2008 to the new Parc y Scarlets in adjacent...
, playing at Prop forward, i.e. number 1 or 3, and at representative level has played rugby league (RL) for Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
, and Wales
Wales national rugby league team
The Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
, and at club level for Belle Vue Rangers
Broughton Rangers
Broughton Rangers was a British rugby football, and subsequently a rugby league club. It was based in Broughton, Salford.-History:Broughton Rangers was founded in 1877 as Broughton and added Rangers for its second season...
, and Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
, playing at , i.e. number 8 or 10, during the era of contested scrums.
International honours
Elwyn Gwyther represented Wales XVWales 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...
(RU) while at Llanelli RFC in the 'Victory International' non-Test match(es)
Test match (rugby union)
Test match in rugby union is a match recognised as being a full international match by at least one of the participating teams' governing bodies. It is an unofficial but widely used term in the sport....
between December 1945 and April 1946, and won caps for Wales
Wales national rugby league team
The Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
(RL) while at Belle Vue Rangers
Broughton Rangers
Broughton Rangers was a British rugby football, and subsequently a rugby league club. It was based in Broughton, Salford.-History:Broughton Rangers was founded in 1877 as Broughton and added Rangers for its second season...
, and Leeds 1947...1953 15-caps, and won caps for Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
(RL) while at Belle Vue Rangers
Broughton Rangers
Broughton Rangers was a British rugby football, and subsequently a rugby league club. It was based in Broughton, Salford.-History:Broughton Rangers was founded in 1877 as Broughton and added Rangers for its second season...
in 1947 against New Zealand (2 matches), in 1950 against Australia (3 matches); and in 1951 against New Zealand.
Six rugby league footballers represented Wales XV
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...
(RU) while at rugby league clubs, they were; Tyssul Griffiths
Tyssul Griffiths
Tyssul "Tuss" Griffiths is a Welsh former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s and '50s who at club level has played rugby union for Newport RFC, playing at Fullback, i.e. number 15, and at representative level has played rugby league for Wales, and at club level...
, Elwyn Gwyther, Gomer Hughes
Gomer Hughes
Gomer Hughes was a Welsh dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1930s and '40s who at representative level played rugby union for Wales, and Wales XV, and at club level for Penarth RFC, playing at Lock, i.e...
, Hugh Lloyd-Davies
Hugh Lloyd-Davies
R. Hugh Lloyd-Davies was a Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s who at representative level played rugby union for Wales XV, at university for Cambridge University RFC, and at club level for Ammanford RFC, playing at Fullback, i.e. number 15, and at club level...
, Harold Thomas
Harold Thomas (rugby)
Harold Watkin Thomas was a Welsh dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1930s and '40s who at representative level played rugby union for Wales, and Wales XV, and at club level for Neath RFC, playing at Lock, i.e...
, and Leslie Thomas.
Gomer Hughes, and Harold Thomas had previously won Wales (RU) caps, but the other footballers hadn't, and having already changed to the rugby league code they were unable to do so, but Tyssul Griffiths, Elwyn Gwyther, Leslie Thomas, did go on to win Wales (RL) caps.