Dai Edwards
Encyclopedia
David "Dai" Edwards was an international rugby
forward who played rugby union
for Glynneath
and rugby league
with Rochdale Hornets
. He won a single cap for Wales
under the rugby union code and then represented his country at rugby league in two matches between 1923 and 1925.
, an encounter with England
at Twickenham. Wales suffered from several injuries to players during the game and were comprehensively beaten. Edwards was not reselected for any of the remaining games of the tournament.
In 1921, Edwards surrendered his amateur status by joining professional rugby league team, Rochdale Hornets. His first match for the Hornets was on 27 August against Swinton. He won two rugby league caps for Wales
as a rugby league international, both games against England in 1923 and in 1925. Returning to Wales in the late 1920s, he coached Rhigos RFC
, until he was stopped by the Welsh Rugby Union
due to his background as a professional league player. He was however allowed to play for Rhigos during the Second World War.
Wales (rugby league) 1923, 1925
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
forward who played 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 Glynneath
Glynneath RFC
Glynneath RFC are a Welsh Rugby Union club playing in Division Three South West of the WRU National Leagues. The Club has win a number of honours over the years, including the locally famous Invincibles of the 1961-62 season captained by Bas Thomas....
and 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...
with Rochdale Hornets
Rochdale Hornets
Rochdale Hornets RLFC is an English professional rugby league club from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. They currently play in Championship One...
. He won a single cap 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...
under the rugby union code and then represented his country at rugby league in two matches between 1923 and 1925.
Rugby career
Edwards rugby career was interrupted by the outbreak of World War I, in which Edwards fought for his country serving in the Welsh Guards. On the resumption of club rugby in 1919, Edwards rejoined his local team Glynneath, and was given the captaincy of the club in the 1919/1920 season. He retained the captaincy the following season, and in 1921 he won his first and only international cap as a rugby union player. Edwards won his cap for the opening game of the 1921 Five Nations Championship1921 Five Nations Championship
The 1921 Five Nations Championship was the seventh 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 thirty-fourth series of the annual northern hemisphere rugby...
, an encounter with 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...
at Twickenham. Wales suffered from several injuries to players during the game and were comprehensively beaten. Edwards was not reselected for any of the remaining games of the tournament.
In 1921, Edwards surrendered his amateur status by joining professional rugby league team, Rochdale Hornets. His first match for the Hornets was on 27 August against Swinton. He won two rugby league 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...
as a rugby league international, both games against England in 1923 and in 1925. Returning to Wales in the late 1920s, he coached Rhigos RFC
Rhigos RFC
Rhigos Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club based in Rhigos, Aberdare, South Wales.-History:Rhigos RFC were formed by the local cricket team that decided they needed a winter sport to allow them to continue playing when the cricket season ended. A vote was made between members on whether...
, until he was stopped by the Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
due to his background as a professional league player. He was however allowed to play for Rhigos during the Second World War.
International matches played
Wales (rugby union) 1921Wales (rugby league) 1923, 1925