John Sidney Smith (rugby player)
Encyclopedia
John Sidney Smith was an English
-born international rugby union
forward who played club rugby for Cardiff Rugby Football Club
and international rugby for Wales
.
in a game against his birth country, England. Playing under the captaincy of Charlie Newman
and fielding seven new caps, the Welsh side lost by a goal and two tries to a goal. Smith did not play in the next international, with his place taken by Thomas Baker Jones
, but regained his position for the final game of the tournament, a win over Ireland. Smith played one more international game for Wales when he was selected for the opening match of the 1885 Championship
. Played at St. Helen's against England, Wales were again beaten, and Smith was not part of the next match, his position taken by Edward Alexander
.
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...
-born 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...
forward who played club rugby for Cardiff Rugby Football Club
Cardiff RFC
Cardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union football club based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park where they have been based ever since...
and 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...
.
Rugby career
Smith came to note as a rugby player during the 1880/81 season when he joined first class club Cardiff. In the 1882/83 season he shared the role of club secretary with W. H. Treat, Smith at the time was articled to Cardiff's Town Clark. Smith was first chosen to represent Wales in the opening game of the 1884 Home Nations Championship1884 Home Nations Championship
The 1884 Home Nations Championship was the second series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 5 January and 12 April 1884...
in a game against his birth country, England. Playing 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...
and fielding seven new caps, the Welsh side lost by a goal and two tries to a goal. Smith did not play in the next international, with his place taken by Thomas Baker Jones
Thomas Baker Jones
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....
, but regained his position for the final game of the tournament, a win over Ireland. Smith played one more international game for Wales when he was selected for the opening match of the 1885 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...
. Played at St. Helen's against England, Wales were again beaten, and Smith was not part of the next match, his position taken by Edward Alexander
Edward Perkins Alexander
Edward Perkins Alexander was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cambridge University and London Welsh and international rugby for Wales. Alexander also represented several cricket teams, including Llandovery College.-Early life:Alexander was born in 1863 at...
.