Thomas Baker Jones
Encyclopedia
Thomas Baker Jones was a Welsh
international rugby union
player who played club rugby union
for Newport. Jones was capped six times for Wales
and was the first player to score recognised international points for the national team.
in Tiverton and came to note as a member of Newport, and was first selected to represent his country at the age of 19. His first match was against Ireland in the first meeting
between the two countries. This was only the second Welsh game and resulted in the first win for Wales. Wales scored four tries
during the game, of which Jones scored the first, which was therefore not only the first ever recognised try over Ireland, but also the very first score scored by Wales as they failed to achieve any points in their first match the previous year against England. Although Jones scored a try, the conversion attempt was unsuccessful which meant that Jones is not recorded with a score.
Jones was reselected for the next two Wales games, the second match to England and the first match to Scotland; both under the captaincy of Charles Lewis
and both lost. Jones was absent from the opening game of the inaugural Home Nations Championship
, but was reselected for the second game of the tournament, against Scotland. Wales were beaten by Scotland again, and Jones missed the last game of the Championship to Ireland. Jones was back in the team for the 1885 Home Nations Championship
. Now under the captaincy of Charlie Newman
, Wales lost against England, but drew the game to Scotland.
After the end of his playing career, Jones continued his link to Newport Rugby Club, becoming the club secretary, and later seeing his son represent both Newport and Wales.
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...
player who played club 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...
for Newport. Jones was capped six times 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...
and was the first player to score recognised international points for the national team.
Rugby career
Jones was educated at Blundell's SchoolBlundell's School
Blundell's School is a co-educational day and boarding independent school located in the town of Tiverton in the county of Devon, England. The school was founded in 1604 by the will of Peter Blundell, one of the richest men in England at the time, and relocated to its present location on the...
in Tiverton and came to note as a member of Newport, and was first selected to represent his country at the age of 19. His first match was against Ireland in the first meeting
1881-82 Home Nations rugby union matches
The 1881-82 Home Nations rugby union matches are a series of international friendlies held between the England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales national rugby union teams. This was the last season before the introduction of the Home Nations Championship and was the last time the teams involved faced...
between the two countries. This was only the second Welsh game and resulted in the first win for Wales. Wales scored four 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 the game, of which Jones scored the first, which was therefore not only the first ever recognised try over Ireland, but also the very first score scored by Wales as they failed to achieve any points in their first match the previous year against England. Although Jones scored a try, the conversion attempt was unsuccessful which meant that Jones is not recorded with a score.
Jones was reselected for the next two Wales games, the second match to England and the first match to Scotland; both 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:...
and both lost. Jones was absent from the opening game of the inaugural Home Nations Championship
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
, but was reselected for the second game of the tournament, against Scotland. Wales were beaten by Scotland again, and Jones missed the last game of the Championship to Ireland. Jones was back in the team for the 1885 Home Nations Championship
1885 Home Nations Championship
The 1885 Home Nations Championship was the third series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Four matches were played between 3 January and 21 February 1885. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales...
. Now under the captaincy of Charlie Newman
Charlie Newman
Charlie Newman was a Welsh international three-quarter who played club rugby for Newport. He was awarded ten caps for Wales and captained the team on six occasions. An original member of the Newport squad he captained the team in the 1882/83 season.-Personal life:Newman was born Newport in 1857 to...
, Wales lost against England, but drew the game to Scotland.
After the end of his playing career, Jones continued his link to Newport Rugby Club, becoming the club secretary, and later seeing his son represent both Newport and Wales.