Bob Evans (rugby union)

Robert Thomas Evans (16 February 1921 – 14 April 2003) was a Welsh rugby union flanker who played club rugby for Newport and county rugby for Monmouthshire. He played ten internationals for Wales, and was selected for the British Lions playing in all six tests of the 1950 tour of Australia and New Zealand.[2]

Bob Evans
Evans in New Zealand in 1950
Birth nameRobert Thomas Evans[1]
Date of birth(1921-02-16)16 February 1921
Place of birthRhymney, Wales[1]
Date of death14 April 2003(2003-04-14) (aged 82)
Place of deathAbergavenny, Wales
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight13 st 8 lb (86 kg; 190 lb)
SchoolRhymney School
Occupation(s)police officer
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
?
?
1945-1952		 Abergavenny RFC
Rhymney RFC
Newport RFC
Monmouthshire		 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1947-1951
1950		 Wales
British Lions[1]		 10
6		 (3)
(0)

Evans was a hard tackling flanker, but his skill was seen in his intelligent defensive positioning. He would often sit behind the three midfield players in offence to ensure that if passing movements broke down the opposition could not counterattack. He specialised in subduing fly-half play and would often disrupt opposing midfield trios into poor positions causing errors in play without even engaging them.[3]

Rugby career

Evans won a Welsh Secondary Schools cap while at Rhymney Secondary School, and after leaving school joined the Monmouthsire Police. In 1943 he joined the Royal Air Force and played rugby for several unit teams. After he was demobbed, he rejoined the police force and was elected captain of his local rugby club at Rhymney. He was invited to play for Newport against Swansea in 1945 in a game at St Helens, and joined the black and ambers that season.

On 22 March 1947, Evans was selected for Wales against France at Stade Colombes. Evans was a late substitute, replacing the injured Ossie Williams, and would represent Wales on ten occasions, scoring his one and only try during his second game, in a match against Ireland.

International matches played

Wales[2]

References
  1. Bob Evans Wales. espn.co.uk
  2. Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. p. 465. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.
  3. Thomas, Wayne (1979). A Century of Welsh Rugby Players. Ansells Ltd. p. 113.
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