Hopkin Maddock
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant
Hopkin "Hop" Thomas Maddock MC
(1881 – 15 December 1921) (often incorrectly listed as Maddocks) was a Welsh
international rugby union
wing who played club rugby for Pontycymer
and London Welsh and county rugby for both Glamorgan and Middlesex. Maddock played in six international rugby games for Wales
scoring a total of six tries. A pacey and elusive runner, Maddock set several scoring records at London Welsh, and scored 170 tries
during his career with the club.
XV. After leaving college, he joined his home town club of Pontycymmer, but later moved to London, joining Welsh exile team, London Welsh at the start of the 1900/01 season. At London Welsh, Maddock set several club records; he is the only player to score five tries or more in a single match on two separate occasions; once against Ilford Wanderers on 22 September and then performed the feat again against Oxford University
on 5 February 1909. Maddock also set the record for most tries in a season, twice, with 25 tries in 22 games in the 1905-06 season, and then beat his own record with 26 tries in 30 games in the 1908-09 campaign. In his entire career with London Welsh, Maddock scored an impressive 170 tries, a record that still stands today.
. The match was played away to England, and Wales were in formidable form after beating New Zealand in the "Game of the Century". Maddock was the only new cap brought into the Welsh squad, as a replacement for Willie Llewellyn
; and he took his place on the wing opposite fellow London Welsh player Teddy Morgan
. It was a perfect start for Maddock's international career; with the Welsh pack dominating the English to allow the backs ample possession. Wales built an early lead with tries from Pritchard
and Hodges
; before Wales' captain Gwyn Nicholls
, took the ball, swerved past English three-quarters Hind and Raphael, before drawing in fullback Jackett and releasing the ball to Maddock, who had followed his captain in support, this unselfish play form Nicholl allowed Maddock to score a try on his debut. Maddock impressed enough to retain his position in the national squad for the remainder of the Championship, and scored his second international try in a win over Scotland; though Wales were denied the title and the Triple Crown
after a remarkable performance by Ireland at the Balmoral Showgrounds.
In 1906 the first touring South African team came to Britain, and although a match was not arranged with London Welsh, the club provided three players for the encounter between the tourists and the Glamorgan County team. Selected were Teddy Morgan and Maddock on the wing, and Jack Williams
in the pack. Glamorgan's first choice on the wing was to be Morgan and Swansea's
Billy Trew
, but after Gwyn Nicholls announced his retirement from the game, Trew was dropped into Nicholl's position, with Maddock brought in as cover at wing. The game was a very close encounter, with the South Africans winning 3-6. The result may have been different, as ten minutes from time, with the score drawn at 3-3, Trew attempted a drop kick at goal, oblivious that Maddock was unmarked at his side, just 15 yards from the try line. Trew's kick failed, and the South Africans countered with a winning try from Anton Stegmann.
Maddock was then dropped from the team the Welsh team to face the same touring South Africans, just a month later; with the Welsh selectors choosing Morgan and Johnnie Williams
. Then in the opening match of the 1907 Home Nations Championship
, Morgan retired form international rugby, allowing Maddock to return to the squad. The first game of the season was against England, and an experimental English pack faltered against their more experienced Welsh counterparts, who utilised a diamond scrummage formation to good effect. Wales scored six tries without reply; Maddock and Trew scoring two apiece. The second game saw Wales lose to eventual Championship winners Scotland, in a low scoring match. Maddock was then replaced by Jones in the final game of the campaign, a win at home over Ireland.
achieved against Newport for the Welsh in November 1973.
The next season, Maddock was made club captain of the senior London Welsh XV, and after three years out of the Wales international team, was reselected for the opening game of the 1910 Five Nations Championship
, and Wales' first Championship encounter with France. The game was, to date, the highest aggregate of any international rugby match, with Wales winning 49-14. Wales scored ten tries, Maddock collecting two of them. Despite the victory, and the tries, Maddock was dropped for the very next game and never represented Wales again.
Despite losing the London Welsh captaincy to Jack Jenkins
for the 1910/11 season, Maddock regained the honour the next season and continued playing for London Welsh until 1913.
, Maddock joined the British Army. He enlisted on 15 September 1914 and was posted into the Royal Fusiliers (Public Schools Battalion). On 25 September 1916 he was commissioned into the Machine Gun Corps
, reaching the rank of Temporary Lieutenant
on 26 April 1918. Maddock was awarded the Military Cross
in 1918 for his gallantry in covering the retreat of his unit from Les Mesnil. Although practically surrounded, Maddock continued firing until all men had crossed a bridge, and was the last man to retire to safety. Although Maddock survived the war, he never recovered from an injury he sustained at the Somme in 1916, and died from that injury in 1921, at the age of 40. The last game of 1921 saw the London Welsh players wearing black armbands in remembrance of Maddock.
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Hopkin "Hop" Thomas Maddock MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(1881 – 15 December 1921) (often incorrectly listed as Maddocks) was a Welsh
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...
wing who played club rugby for Pontycymer
Pontycymmer RFC
Pontycymmer Rugby Football Club are a Welsh rugby union club based in Pontycymer near Bridgend, Wales. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is also a feeder club for the Ospreys. -Club honours:* WRU Division Six Central 1999/2000 - Champions...
and London Welsh and county rugby for both Glamorgan and Middlesex. Maddock played in six international rugby games 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...
scoring a total of six tries. A pacey and elusive runner, Maddock set several scoring records at London Welsh, and scored 170 tries
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...
during his career with the club.
Early career
Maddock first played rugby at a competitive level when he was selected to play for the Christ CollegeChrist College, Brecon
Christ College, Brecon is a co-educational, boarding and day independent school, located in the market town of Brecon in mid-Wales. It caters for pupils from eleven to eighteen.Christ College was founded by Royal Charter in 1541 by King Henry VIII...
XV. After leaving college, he joined his home town club of Pontycymmer, but later moved to London, joining Welsh exile team, London Welsh at the start of the 1900/01 season. At London Welsh, Maddock set several club records; he is the only player to score five tries or more in a single match on two separate occasions; once against Ilford Wanderers on 22 September and then performed the feat again against Oxford University
Oxford University RFC
The Oxford University Rugby Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Oxford. The club contests The Varsity Match every year against Cambridge University at Twickenham.-History:...
on 5 February 1909. Maddock also set the record for most tries in a season, twice, with 25 tries in 22 games in the 1905-06 season, and then beat his own record with 26 tries in 30 games in the 1908-09 campaign. In his entire career with London Welsh, Maddock scored an impressive 170 tries, a record that still stands today.
International call up, 1906-1908
During the 1905/06 season Maddock was at the height of his playing abilities, and was finally recognised for his achievements when he was selected to play for Wales in the opening encounter of the 1906 Home Nations Championship1906 Home Nations Championship
The 1906 Home Nations Championship was the twenty-fourth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 13 January and 17 March...
. The match was played away to England, and Wales were in formidable form after beating New Zealand in the "Game of the Century". Maddock was the only new cap brought into the Welsh squad, as a replacement for Willie Llewellyn
Willie Llewellyn
William Morris "Willie" Llewellyn was a Welsh international rugby union player. He captained Wales in 1905 and London Welsh in 1902. He was a member of the winning Welsh team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks, toured with the British Isles to Australasia in 1904 and won three Triple Crown...
; and he took his place on the wing opposite fellow London Welsh player Teddy Morgan
Teddy Morgan
Edward "Teddy" Morgan was a Welsh international rugby union player. He was a member of the winning Wales team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks and is remembered for scoring the winning try...
. It was a perfect start for Maddock's international career; with the Welsh pack dominating the English to allow the backs ample possession. Wales built an early lead with tries from Pritchard
Charlie Pritchard
Captain Charlie Pritchard was a Welsh international rugby union player. He was a member of the winning Welsh team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks. He played club rugby for Newport RFC and county rugby for Monmouthshire.-Rugby career:...
and Hodges
Jehoida Hodges
Joseph Jehoida Hodges was a Welsh international rugby union player. He was a member of the winning Welsh team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks...
; before Wales' captain Gwyn Nicholls
Gwyn Nicholls
Erith Gwyn Nicholls was a Welsh rugby union player who gained 24 caps for Wales as a centre. Nicholls was known as the "Prince of Threequarters"....
, took the ball, swerved past English three-quarters Hind and Raphael, before drawing in fullback Jackett and releasing the ball to Maddock, who had followed his captain in support, this unselfish play form Nicholl allowed Maddock to score a try on his debut. Maddock impressed enough to retain his position in the national squad for the remainder of the Championship, and scored his second international try in a win over Scotland; though Wales were denied the title and the Triple Crown
Triple Crown (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, the Triple Crown is an honour contested annually by the four national teams of the British Isles who compete within the larger Six Nations Championship: England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. If any one team manages to win all their games against the other three they win the...
after a remarkable performance by Ireland at the Balmoral Showgrounds.
In 1906 the first touring South African team came to Britain, and although a match was not arranged with London Welsh, the club provided three players for the encounter between the tourists and the Glamorgan County team. Selected were Teddy Morgan and Maddock on the wing, and Jack Williams
Jack Williams (rugby player)
John Frederick 'Jack' Williams was a Welsh international rugby union lock who played club rugby for London Welsh...
in the pack. Glamorgan's first choice on the wing was to be Morgan and 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...
Billy Trew
Billy Trew
Billy Trew was a Welsh international centre, outside half and wing who played club rugby for Swansea Rugby Football Club. He won 29 caps for Wales and is seen as one of the key players of the first Golden Age of Welsh rugby union...
, but after Gwyn Nicholls announced his retirement from the game, Trew was dropped into Nicholl's position, with Maddock brought in as cover at wing. The game was a very close encounter, with the South Africans winning 3-6. The result may have been different, as ten minutes from time, with the score drawn at 3-3, Trew attempted a drop kick at goal, oblivious that Maddock was unmarked at his side, just 15 yards from the try line. Trew's kick failed, and the South Africans countered with a winning try from Anton Stegmann.
Maddock was then dropped from the team the Welsh team to face the same touring South Africans, just a month later; with the Welsh selectors choosing Morgan and Johnnie Williams
Johnnie Williams
Johnnie Williams was a Welsh international wing who played club rugby for Cardiff Rugby Club. A three times Triple Crown winner, out of seventeen appearances for Wales he was on the losing side only twice....
. Then in the opening match of the 1907 Home Nations Championship
1907 Home Nations Championship
The 1907 Home Nations Championship was the twenty-fifth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 12 January and 16 March...
, Morgan retired form international rugby, allowing Maddock to return to the squad. The first game of the season was against England, and an experimental English pack faltered against their more experienced Welsh counterparts, who utilised a diamond scrummage formation to good effect. Wales scored six tries without reply; Maddock and Trew scoring two apiece. The second game saw Wales lose to eventual Championship winners Scotland, in a low scoring match. Maddock was then replaced by Jones in the final game of the campaign, a win at home over Ireland.
Later career, 1908-1913
Although Maddock's international career appeared behind him, he continued turning out for London Welsh, and in the second half of the 1908/09 season was central in turning around a poor season to help the club win 13 of their last 15 matches. In the final 19 matches of that season, Maddock scored 17 tries, including a run of nine successive games where he scored at least one try. The most significant match of the campaign, was the encounter with Oxford University on 5 February 1909. Oxford had an exceptional team, and were unbeaten by the end of January, despite having one of the strongest fixture lists in Britain. Although two of their regular players were on international duty, Oxford still provided a strong team to face London Welsh. Oxford started the game at a high tempo, but the Welsh absorbed the pressure and scored three quick tries to lead the University tram 14-6 at half time. Maddock, to that point not on the score sheet, controlled the game in the second half. With a combination of speed and agility he managed to score five tries which saw the previously unbeaten Oxford finish 39-9 losers. Maddock's performance on that day is compared to the five try total Gerald DaviesGerald Davies
Thomas Gerald Reames Davies CBE is one of the acknowledged greats of Welsh rugby, playing for the side between 1966 and 1978.-Biography:...
achieved against Newport for the Welsh in November 1973.
The next season, Maddock was made club captain of the senior London Welsh XV, and after three years out of the Wales international team, was reselected for the opening game of the 1910 Five Nations Championship
1910 Five Nations Championship
The 1910 Five Nations Championship was the first 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 twenty-eighth series of the annual northern hemisphere rugby...
, and Wales' first Championship encounter with France. The game was, to date, the highest aggregate of any international rugby match, with Wales winning 49-14. Wales scored ten tries, Maddock collecting two of them. Despite the victory, and the tries, Maddock was dropped for the very next game and never represented Wales again.
Despite losing the London Welsh captaincy to Jack Jenkins
Jack Jenkins (rugby player)
John "Jack" Charles Jenkins was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Newport and London Welsh. He won just a single cap for Wales in 1907 but faced both New Zealand and South Africa at county level with Middlesex and Monmouthshire.-Personal history:Jenkins was born...
for the 1910/11 season, Maddock regained the honour the next season and continued playing for London Welsh until 1913.
Military career and death
With the outbreak of the First World WarWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Maddock joined the British Army. He enlisted on 15 September 1914 and was posted into the Royal Fusiliers (Public Schools Battalion). On 25 September 1916 he was commissioned into the Machine Gun Corps
Machine Gun Corps
The Machine Gun Corps was a corps of the British Army, formed in October 1915 in response to the need for more effective use of machine guns on the Western Front in World War I. The Heavy Branch of the MGC was the first to use tanks in combat, and the branch was subsequently turned into the Tank...
, reaching the rank of Temporary Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
on 26 April 1918. Maddock was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
in 1918 for his gallantry in covering the retreat of his unit from Les Mesnil. Although practically surrounded, Maddock continued firing until all men had crossed a bridge, and was the last man to retire to safety. Although Maddock survived the war, he never recovered from an injury he sustained at the Somme in 1916, and died from that injury in 1921, at the age of 40. The last game of 1921 saw the London Welsh players wearing black armbands in remembrance of Maddock.