Percy Bennett (15 November 1869 – 5 May 1936) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

-born international

rugby union Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...

forward who played club rugby for Cardiff Harlequins and international rugby for

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

. He was the first player to represent his club in the Welsh team. At that time Cardiff Harlequins were one of the eight senior clubs in Welsh rugby.

Rugby career

Bennett first came to note as a rugby player while representing Cardiff Harlequins. Bennet was first selected to represent his adopted country as part of the

1891 Home Nations Championship The 1891 Home Nations Championship was the ninth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 3 January and 7 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The 1891 Championship was won ...

, brought into the pack to face England in the opening game of the tournament. Bennett was one of three newly capped forwards, joining

Edward Pegge Edward Vernon Pegge (5 June 1864 − 21 March 1915) was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Neath Rugby Football Club, international rugby for Wales and later became a vice-president of the Welsh Rugby Union. Peg ...

and

Harry Packer Harry Packer (9 September 1868 – 25 May 1946) was an England, English-born international rugby union prop who played club rugby for Newport RFC, Newport and was capped seven times for Wales national rugby union team, Wales. Packer had a long ...

in their first international. In a close game, Wales lost 3–7, but the selectors kept faith with Bennett and he was reselected for the next game away to Scotland. Wales lost this game heavily, in a year that saw Scotland eventually win the championship and take the Triple Crown. The selectors reacted to the defeat by switching out half of the pack, replacing them with new caps; Bennett was one of the players to lose his position. Although not picked for the opening match of the 1892 Championship, Bennett was back in favour for the last two matches of the series, replacing Rowley Thomas. Despite the quality in the Welsh team, including their returning captain Arthur Gould, the Welsh were again beaten. The final game of the tournament, was a

Wooden Spoon A wooden spoon is a Kitchen utensil, utensil commonly used in food preparation. In addition to its culinary uses, wooden spoons also feature in folk art and culture. History The word ''spoon'' derives from an ancient word meaning a chip of woo ...

decider away to Ireland. Bennett was joined in this game by fellow Harlequins team-mate Frederick Nicholls, who played on the wing. The game ended in a loss, the first time Wales had lost all three Championship matches, and Bennett's international career ended in a poor, played four, lost four record.

International matches played

WalesSmith (1980), pg 463. * 1891 * 1892 * 1891, 1892

Bibliography

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, Percy 1869 births 1936 deaths English rugby union players Rugby union forwards Rugby union players from St Columb Major Wales international rugby union players Welsh rugby union players People from St Columb Major