Raymond Bark-Jones
Encyclopedia
Raymond Bark-Jones was an English
rugby union
lock who played international rugby for Wales
. He played his club rugby for Waterloo R.F.C.
and Cambridge University
.
, Rutland and from there was accepted into Cambridge University. While at Cambridge he played in the 1932 December Varsity match, along with future Wales international Vivian Jenkins
. Bark-Jones played impressively and was tipped as a future Welsh cap by the Western Mail and just a few weeks later, in the Welsh trials, was chosen to represent Wales.
Bark-Jones' first international game was a historic Welsh victory over his birth country, England. Wales had failed to win at Twickenham
in the first nine attempts, and the Welsh failure at the ground was known as the 'Twickenham bogey'. In an exciting match Bark-Jones played his part with excellent line-out play which was at the heart of the Welsh victory. The game ended 7-3, with all the Welsh points scored by Ronnie Boon
. Bark-Jones played just one more international game in the very next match of the Home Nations Championship
against Scotland at St Helens
.
Bark-Jones was injured at the age of 22 and was forced to retire from rugby.
His family carry on the Rugby tradition with his great-grand sons Sam Halliwell playing 1st team rugby at Shrewsbury and William Halliwell playing 15 A's Rugby.
A quote from his son Neville Bark-Jones, "he was gentle off the pitch yet fearful on".
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
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...
lock who played 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 played his club rugby for Waterloo R.F.C.
Waterloo R.F.C.
Waterloo Football Club is an English Rugby Union team based at St Anthonys Road, Blundellsands, Merseyside. It celebrated its 125th season in 2007/08, having been founded in 1882 by brothers Sidney and Harry Hall and George Abercrombie. From 1882 until 1884 the club was known as Serpentine after...
and Cambridge University
Cambridge University R.U.F.C.
The Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club, or CURUFC, is the rugby union club of Cambridge University, and plays Oxford University in the annual Varsity Match at Twickenham stadium every December. CURUFC players wear light blue and white hooped jerseys with a red lion crest...
.
Rugby career
Bark-Jones was educated at Uppingham SchoolUppingham School
Uppingham School is a co-educational independent school of the English public school tradition, situated in the small town of Uppingham in Rutland, England...
, Rutland and from there was accepted into Cambridge University. While at Cambridge he played in the 1932 December Varsity match, along with future Wales international Vivian Jenkins
Vivian Jenkins
Vivian Gordon James Jenkins was a Welsh rugby union player who, having taught Classics and Games at Dover College, went on to have a successful career as a sports journalist. He won 14 caps for Wales and 1 cap for the British and Irish Lions. He also played first-class cricket with...
. Bark-Jones played impressively and was tipped as a future Welsh cap by the Western Mail and just a few weeks later, in the Welsh trials, was chosen to represent Wales.
Bark-Jones' first international game was a historic Welsh victory over his birth country, England. Wales had failed to win at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
in the first nine attempts, and the Welsh failure at the ground was known as the 'Twickenham bogey'. In an exciting match Bark-Jones played his part with excellent line-out play which was at the heart of the Welsh victory. The game ended 7-3, with all the Welsh points scored by Ronnie Boon
Ronnie Boon
Ronald Winston "Ronnie" Boon was an international rugby union wing for Wales who played club rugby for Cardiff. Boon possessed a tremendous self-confidence in his own ability and this was reflected in his nickname Cocky. Boon was a quick runner, representing Wales at the 220 yard sprint, and was...
. Bark-Jones played just one more international game in the very next match of the Home Nations Championship
1933 Home Nations Championship
The 1933 Home Nations Championship was the twenty-ninth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Including the previous incarnations as the Five Nations, and prior to that, the Home Nations, this was the forty-sixth series of the northern hemisphere rugby union championship. Six matches...
against Scotland at St Helens
St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground
St. Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground is a spectator venue in Swansea, Wales. It is used for both rugby and cricket.It is owned and operated by the City and County of Swansea council and is also used to host the local annual Guy Fawkes night fireworks display.-History:Since the ground opened in...
.
Bark-Jones was injured at the age of 22 and was forced to retire from rugby.
His family carry on the Rugby tradition with his great-grand sons Sam Halliwell playing 1st team rugby at Shrewsbury and William Halliwell playing 15 A's Rugby.
A quote from his son Neville Bark-Jones, "he was gentle off the pitch yet fearful on".