John Evans (rugby player)

John Raymond Evans (12 September 1911 – 8 March 1943) was a Welsh international rugby union hooker who played club rugby for Newport. Evans joined Newport after showing promise as a Welsh Schools players, winning three caps while at Newport High School. Evans captained Newport on two occasions, once in 1935/36 season and again in 1936/37. In 1935 Evans captained Newport against the touring New Zealand team.

John Evans
Birth nameJohn Raymond Evans
Date of birth(1911-09-12)12 September 1911
Place of birthNewport,[1] Wales
Date of death8 March 1943(1943-03-08) (aged 31)
Place of deathSedjenane, French Tunisia
SchoolNewport High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1929-1930
1930-1937
1935-1936		 Chiltern RFC,London Welsh RFC
Newport RFC
Barbarian F.C.		 ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1934 Wales[2] 1 (0)

Evans made his one and only international appearance against England in the 1934 Home Nations Championship, and was given the captaincy. He was one of 13 new caps to play for Wales, with only Claude Davey and Dai Thomas with any past international experience. Wales came a poor second, losing 9-0. The selectors were severely criticized for their choice, not only because of the teams inexperience, but also because seven of the team played their rugby outside Wales. Evans was one of five players from the Welsh team that day that became one cap wonders.

Evans was killed in action while serving his country in North Africa during the Second World War.[3]Whilst serving in 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, Evans parachuted into French Tunisia in November 1942 and was fatally shot by a sniper while defending Sedjenane crossroads in March 1943.[4]

International matches played

Wales[5]

Bibliography
  • Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.

References
  1. Newport RFC player profiles Archived 2011-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
  2. WRU player profiles
  3. CWGC entry
  4. "John R Evans". paradata.org.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  5. Smith (1980), pg 465.

80 seasons at Amersham and Chiltern RFC

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