Raymond Bark-Jones (29 August 1911 – 2 February 1995) was an English

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 ...

lock Lock(s) or Locked may refer to: Common meanings *Lock and key, a mechanical device used to secure items of importance *Lock (water navigation), a device for boats to transit between different levels of water, as in a canal Arts and entertainme ...

who played 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 played his club rugby for Waterloo R.F.C. and

Cambridge University The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

Rugby career

Bark-Jones was educated at

Uppingham School Uppingham School is a public school (English fee-charging boarding and day school for pupils 13–18) in Uppingham, Rutland, England, founded in 1584 by Robert Johnson, the Archdeacon of Leicester, who also established Oakham School. ...

, Rutland and from there was accepted into Cambridge University. While at Cambridge he played in the 1932 December Varsity match, along with future Wales international Vivian Jenkins. Bark-Jones played impressively and was tipped as a future Welsh cap by the Western MailSmith (1980), pg 272. and just a few weeks later, in the Welsh trials, was chosen to represent Wales. Bark-Jones' first international game was a Welsh victory over his birth country, England. Wales had failed to win at

Twickenham Twickenham ( ) is a suburban district of London, England, on the River Thames southwest of Charing Cross. Historic counties of England, Historically in Middlesex, since 1965 it has formed part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, who ...

in the first nine attempts, and the Welsh failure at the ground was known as the 'Twickenham bogey'. Bark-Jones' line-out play was critical to the Welsh victory.Smith (1980), pg 276. The game ended 7–3, with all the Welsh points scored by Ronnie Boon. Bark-Jones played one more international game in the next match of the Home Nations Championship against Scotland at St Helens. Bark-Jones was injured at the age of 22 and was forced to retire from rugby. His son Richard Bark Jones continued the rugby tradition at Uppingham, Cambridge and Lancashire. His family carry on the Rugby tradition with his great-grandsons Sam Halliwell playing 1st team rugby at Shrewsbury and William Halliwell playing 15 A's Rugby. A quote from his son Richard Bark- Jones, "he was one of the best rugby players and a great father". A quote from his son Neville Bark-Jones, "he was gentle off the pitch yet fearful on".

International matches played

WalesSmith (1980), pg 468. * 1933 * 1933

Bibliography

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bark-Jones, Raymond 1911 births 1995 deaths Cambridge University R.U.F.C. players English rugby union players People educated at Uppingham School Sportspeople from Crosby, Merseyside Rugby union players from Merseyside Rugby union locks Rugby union players from Liverpool Wales international rugby union players Welsh rugby union players Waterloo F.C. players 20th-century English sportsmen