Selwyn Biggs
Encyclopedia
Selwyn Hanam Biggs was a Welsh
international rugby union
fly-half who played club rugby for Cardiff
and county rugby for Glamorgan. Both Biggs and his brother Norman
played international rugby for Wales
, though they never played in the same match for Wales together. Biggs was described at the time as a 'certain tackler' and a 'fast, good dodger'. Biggs also played cricket for Glamorgan
and was part of the team to face the touring South Africans in 1895
.
, the very next international after his brother represented Wales for the final time. Biggs was partnered in the half-back role with Llanelli's
Ben Davies
, himself a new cap; and the first of six partners he would be paired with over his nine match career. His first international was against England in a game played at St. Helens in Swansea
. Under the captaincy of Wales rugby superstar Arthur 'Monkey' Gould, Wales lost 3-7, with the English forwards outplaying their Welsh counterparts in the loose. The selectors kept faith with Biggs for the next game of the Championship, away to Scotland, but switched Davies for the more experienced Fred Parfitt
. Wales lost this game too, again the forwards could not contend with the opposing side and Biggs and Parfitt were replaced by Morgan of Llanelli and Sweet-Escott
of Cardiff in the final game of the tournament.
The 1896 Championship
witnessed a change in direction for the Welsh team, with a massive upheaval in the team selection. The selectors chose a new pairing at half-back for the first game against England, but the blame again fell on the forwards, with the English winning by a massive 25 points to nil. Biggs and Parfitt were brought back into the squad for the second game, but more importantly five new caps made their debut in the pack. The Scottish lost 6-0 against Wales at Cardiff
, which was seen as an upset by the inexperienced Welsh. Biggs missed the final game against Ireland and his replacement, Llewellyn Lloyd
, had a torrid time trying to defend Irish attacks.
The 1897 Championship
saw Wales play just one match, after the Welsh Rugby Union
withdrew Wales from international competition due to the Gould Affair, but Biggs was reselected for that match. His pairing for this game, against England, was Aberavon's
Dan Jones
who scored a try
in a rare victory over the English. When Wales were readmitted to the tournament the next year
, Biggs was given a new partner for both games, his Cardiff team-mate Jack Elliott
. Wales won the Ireland game at Limerick
but lost to England at Blackheath
.
1898 saw Biggs captain the Cardiff team twice against the invitational touring team the Barbarians
. Cardiff won both matches with Viv Huzzey
scoring two tries, four conversions and a dropped goal in the second game.
At international level Biggs was dropped once more, when the charismatic James Brothers were reselected over him for the England game during the 1899 Championship
. England were beaten convincingly, but the James brothers both turned professional shortly afterwards, making themselves ineligible for further appearances under the rugby union code. The selectors brought Lloyd back into the squad to partner Biggs in the final two games of the tournament, losses to Scotland and Ireland.
Biggs played one final international game, as part of the 1900 Home Nations Championship
. Wales had already won the first two games over England and Scotland with the half-back pairing of Lloyd and Phillips
. Biggs replaced Lloyd for the away match against Ireland, and a Welsh victory gave Wales the tournament. Biggs, like his brother in 1893, was now part of a Triple Crown
winning team.
In 1904, Biggs was one of twenty sporting stars of rugby and football to be chosen on a series of collectable cards issued with Cadle's cigarettes.
between 1896 and 1899.
On 22 June 1894, Biggs was part of the Glamorgan team to face the touring South African cricket team at the Cardiff Arms Park. Biggs played alongside fellow rugby internationals Billy Bancroft
and Ralph Sweet-Escott. Glamorgan lost by ten wickets, with Biggs taking two wickets, including Frank Hearne
, for 76 runs in 24 overs.
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...
fly-half who played club rugby for Cardiff
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 county rugby for Glamorgan. Both Biggs and his brother Norman
Norman Biggs
Norman Witchell Biggs was a Welsh international rugby union wing who played club rugby for Cardiff and county rugby for Glamorgan. Both Biggs and his brother Selwyn played international rugby for Wales, though they never played together in the same match for Wales...
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...
, though they never played in the same match for Wales together. Biggs was described at the time as a 'certain tackler' and a 'fast, good dodger'. Biggs also played cricket for Glamorgan
Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
and was part of the team to face the touring South Africans in 1895
South African cricket team in England in 1894
The inaugural South African tour of England took place in the 1894 season.None of the 24 matches are currently regarded as first-class fixtures, even though South Africa had already begun playing matches subsequently recognised as Test matches at home and even though many of the matches on tour...
.
Rugby career
Biggs followed his brother Norman when he joined Cardiff Rugby Club, the team he would represent through-out his international career. He was first selected to represent Wales in the opening game of the 1895 Home Nations Championship1895 Home Nations Championship
The 1895 Home Nations Championship was the thirteenth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 5 January and 16 March...
, the very next international after his brother represented Wales for the final time. Biggs was partnered in the half-back role with Llanelli's
Llanelli RFC
Llanelli Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club founded in 1875 and its senior team is one of the leading club sides in Wales. The club began the 2008-09 season at their historic home ground of Stradey Park in Llanelli, but moved in November 2008 to the new Parc y Scarlets in adjacent...
Ben Davies
Ben Davies (rugby player)
Benjamin "Ben" Davies was a Welsh international rugby halfback who played rugby union for Llanelli and was capped twice for Wales. Davies captained Llanelli for the 1894-95 season and was club secretary between 1898 and 1899...
, himself a new cap; and the first of six partners he would be paired with over his nine match career. His first international was against England in a game played at St. Helens in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
. Under the captaincy of Wales rugby superstar Arthur 'Monkey' Gould, Wales lost 3-7, with the English forwards outplaying their Welsh counterparts in the loose. The selectors kept faith with Biggs for the next game of the Championship, away to Scotland, but switched Davies for the more experienced Fred Parfitt
Fred Parfitt
Frederick 'Fred' Charles Parfitt was a Welsh international rugby union scrum-half who played club rugby for Newport, regional rugby for Somerset and was capped nine times for Wales...
. Wales lost this game too, again the forwards could not contend with the opposing side and Biggs and Parfitt were replaced by Morgan of Llanelli and Sweet-Escott
Ralph Sweet-Escott
Ralph Bond Sweet-Escott was an English-born international rugby union half back who played club rugby for Cardiff and was capped three times for Wales. Sweet-Escott also played cricket for Glamorgan representing the county in the Minor Counties Cricket Championship...
of Cardiff in the final game of the tournament.
The 1896 Championship
1896 Home Nations Championship
The 1896 Home Nations Championship was the fourteenth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 4 January and 14 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.-Table:-Results:...
witnessed a change in direction for the Welsh team, with a massive upheaval in the team selection. The selectors chose a new pairing at half-back for the first game against England, but the blame again fell on the forwards, with the English winning by a massive 25 points to nil. Biggs and Parfitt were brought back into the squad for the second game, but more importantly five new caps made their debut in the pack. The Scottish lost 6-0 against Wales at Cardiff
Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park , also known as The Arms Park, is primarily known as a rugby union stadium, but it also has a bowling green, and is situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. The Arms Park was host to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958, and hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World...
, which was seen as an upset by the inexperienced Welsh. Biggs missed the final game against Ireland and his replacement, Llewellyn Lloyd
Llewellyn Lloyd
George Llewellyn Lloyd was a Welsh international half-back who played club rugby for Newport and county rugby with Kent. He won 12 caps for Wales and captained the team on one occasion against Scotland....
, had a torrid time trying to defend Irish attacks.
The 1897 Championship
1897 Home Nations Championship
The 1897 Home Nations Championship was the fifteenth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Four matches were played between 9 January and 13 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales...
saw Wales play just one match, after 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...
withdrew Wales from international competition due to the Gould Affair, but Biggs was reselected for that match. His pairing for this game, against England, was Aberavon's
Aberavon RFC
Aberavon RFC is a rugby union club located in the Welsh town of Port Talbot, although the club's name refers to the older settlement of Aberavon which lies on the western side of the town...
Dan Jones
Daniel Jones (rugby player)
Daniel "Dan" Jones was a Welsh international rugby union scrum-half who played club rugby for Aberavon and international rugby for Wales. He is notable as being the first player to represent Aberavon at international level...
who scored a try
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...
in a rare victory over the English. When Wales were readmitted to the tournament the next year
1898 Home Nations Championship
The 1898 Home Nations Championship was the sixteenth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Five matches were played between 5 February and 2 April. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales....
, Biggs was given a new partner for both games, his Cardiff team-mate Jack Elliott
Jack Elliott (rugby player)
John "Jack" Elliott was a Welsh rugby union scrum-half who played club rugby for Cardiff and international rugby for Wales, winning three caps....
. Wales won the Ireland game at Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
but lost to England at Blackheath
Blackheath, London
Blackheath is a district of South London, England. It is named from the large open public grassland which separates it from Greenwich to the north and Lewisham to the west...
.
1898 saw Biggs captain the Cardiff team twice against the invitational touring team the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
. Cardiff won both matches with Viv Huzzey
Viv Huzzey
Viv Huzzey was a Welsh rugby union wing who played club rugby for Cardiff and won five caps for Wales. Huzzey was also an international baseball player.-Club career:...
scoring two tries, four conversions and a dropped goal in the second game.
At international level Biggs was dropped once more, when the charismatic James Brothers were reselected over him for the England game during the 1899 Championship
1899 Home Nations Championship
The 1899 Home Nations Championship was the seventeenth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 5 January and 18 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales....
. England were beaten convincingly, but the James brothers both turned professional shortly afterwards, making themselves ineligible for further appearances under the rugby union code. The selectors brought Lloyd back into the squad to partner Biggs in the final two games of the tournament, losses to Scotland and Ireland.
Biggs played one final international game, as part of the 1900 Home Nations Championship
1900 Home Nations Championship
The 1900 Home Nations Championship was the eighteenth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 6 January and 17 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.-Table:-Results:...
. Wales had already won the first two games over England and Scotland with the half-back pairing of Lloyd and Phillips
Lou Phillips
Louis Augustus "Lou" Phillips was a Welsh international scrum-half who played club rugby for Newport. He won four caps for Wales and was a talented amateur golf player.-Rugby career:...
. Biggs replaced Lloyd for the away match against Ireland, and a Welsh victory gave Wales the tournament. Biggs, like his brother in 1893, was now part of a 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...
winning team.
In 1904, Biggs was one of twenty sporting stars of rugby and football to be chosen on a series of collectable cards issued with Cadle's cigarettes.
Cricket career
Biggs played for several Welsh cricket clubs, mainly for Glamorgan but turned out for Cardiff and South Wales. He was a medium pace bowler, turning out for Glamorgan in the Minor Counties Cricket ChampionshipMinor Counties Cricket Championship
The Minor Counties Cricket Championship is a season-long competition in England that is contested by those county cricket clubs that do not have first-class status...
between 1896 and 1899.
On 22 June 1894, Biggs was part of the Glamorgan team to face the touring South African cricket team at the Cardiff Arms Park. Biggs played alongside fellow rugby internationals Billy Bancroft
Billy Bancroft
Billy Bancroft was a Welsh international fullback who played club rugby for Swansea and a county cricketer for Glamorgan, becoming their first professional player in 1895....
and Ralph Sweet-Escott. Glamorgan lost by ten wickets, with Biggs taking two wickets, including Frank Hearne
Frank Hearne
Frank Hearne was a cricketer.One of the few men to play Test cricket for more than one country, he played for both England and South Africa....
, for 76 runs in 24 overs.
External links
- Cricket Archive Cricket biography of Selwyn Biggs with portrait