William Charles "Wick" Powell (1905–1973) was a Welsh 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 ...

scrum-half who played club rugby for

London Welsh London Welsh Rugby Football Club () was a rugby union club formed in 1885. Based in Old Deer Park, Richmond-upon-Thames, London Welsh RFC played in the English Premiership in the 2012–13 and 2014–15 seasons, after gaining promotion from ...

and county rugby for Middlesex. Powell was a powerful passer whose speciality was the reverse pass, though he is often remembered for his varying displays for his country that sometimes would lose as much as win games.Thomas (1979), p. 66.

Rugby career

Powell first came to note when at the age of 16 was invited to tour with invitational team Crawshays. While 16, and as a Welsh Guardsman, he turned out for the Army XV. He left the army to qualify as an architect, and in 1926, while playing for London Welsh, he was brought into the Welsh squad against Scotland. Although Wales lost the match 8–5, Powell was hailed as a success as he appeared to complete his task of subduing Scotland's

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, who had scored seven tries in his last two games against Wales.Goodwin (1984), p. 158. Powell later captained Wales on two occasions, the first time against France in 1927, on only his fifth cap. He captained Wales again the next match against Ireland, but although his last captaincy he represented Wales 27 times until 1935.

International matches played

WalesSmith (1980), p. 470. * 1927, 1929, 1931, 1932, 1935 * 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931 * 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1935 * 1931 * 1926, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1935

Bibliography

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Powell, Wick 1905 births 1973 deaths Abertillery RFC players Barbarian F.C. players Crawshays RFC players London Welsh RFC players Rugby union players from Aberbeeg Wales international rugby union players Wales rugby union captains Welsh Guards soldiers Welsh rugby union players Rugby union scrum-halves