Frank Stephens (rugby)

Frank Stephens (23 March 1899 – 11 March 1971) was an English-born Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s. He played invitational level rugby union (RU) for Crawshays RFC, and at club level for Bargoed RFC and Cardiff RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales and Other Nationalities, and at club level for Wigan, Batley and Rochdale Hornets, as a prop, or second-row, i.e. number 8 or 10, or, 11 or 12, during the era of contested scrums.[1][2] Frank Stephens played for Wigan against Dewsbury in the first rugby league Challenge Cup Final to be held at Wembley Stadium, London in 1929.

Frank Stephens
Personal information
Full nameFrank Stephens
Born23 March 1899
Drybrook, Gloucestershire, England
Died11 March 1971(1971-03-11) (aged 71)
Wigan, England
Playing information
Rugby union
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1921–23 Bargoed RFC
1923–25 Cardiff RFC
Total 0 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1922–25 Crawshays RFC
Rugby league
PositionProp, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1925–30 Wigan 205 7 21
1930–31 Batley 34
1931–32 Rochdale Hornets 13
Total 252 7 0 0 21
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1929 Other Nationalities 1
1926–30 Wales 4
Source: [1]

Biography

Frank Stephens was born in Drybrook, Gloucestershire[3] but brought up in Blackwood, Monmouthshire. Prior to his Wigan rugby league career he had played rugby union for Bargoed, and subsequently joined Cardiff RFC in 1923. During this period he also played for Captain Crawshay's Welsh XV select tours from 1922 to 1925. His rugby league career started when invited to sign for Wigan RFC in 1925.

Playing career

International honours

Frank Stephens won a cap for Other Nationalities (RL) while at Wigan in the 20-27 defeat by England at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Wednesday 20 March 1929, and won caps for Wales (RL) while at Wigan in the 34-8 victory over New Zealand at Taff Vale Park, Pontypridd on Saturday 4 December 1926, the 12-20 defeat by England at Central Park, Wigan on Wednesday 11 January 1928, the 15-39 defeat by England at White City Stadium, Sloper Road, Grangetown, Cardiff on Wednesday 14 November 1928, and the 10-26 defeat by Australia at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 18 January 1930.[1]

County honours

Frank Stephens played hooker in Monmouthshire's 14-18 defeat by Glamorgan in the non-County Championship match during the 1926–27 season at Taff Vale Park, Pontypridd on Saturday 30 April 1927,[4] and represented Glamorgan and Monmouthshire (RL) while at Wigan against Lancashire at Taff Vale Park, Pontypridd on Saturday 12 November 1927, against Cumberland at Recreation Ground?, Whitehaven on Saturday 20 October 1928, against Cumberland at Welsh White City Stadium, Sloper Road, Grangetown, Cardiff on Saturday 21 December 1929, and against Yorkshire at Parkside, Hunslet on Thursday 27 February 1930.

Championship final appearances

Frank Stephens played right-second-row, i.e. number 12, in Wigan's 22-10 victory over Warrington in the Championship Final during the 1925–26 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 8 May 1926.[5]

County League appearances

Frank Stephens played in Wigan's victory in the Lancashire County League during the 1925–26 season.[6]

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Frank Stephens played left-second-row, i.e. number 11, in Wigan's 13-2 victory over Dewsbury in the 1928–29 Challenge Cup Final during the 1928–29 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 4 May 1929.[7]

County Cup Final appearances

Frank Stephens played right-second-row, i.e. number 12, in Wigan's 11-15 defeat by Swinton in the 1925–26 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1925–26 season at The Cliff, Broughton on Wednesday 9 December 1925, and played right-second-row in the 5-4 victory over Widnes in the 1928–29 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1928–29 season at The Willows, Salford on Saturday 24 November 1928,[8]

Genealogical information

Frank Stephens' marriage to Edna (née Morris) was registered during first ¼ 1928 in Wigan district.[9] They had children; Enid L. Stephens (birth registered during second ¼ 1928 in Wigan district), Ronald A. Stephens (birth registered during third ¼ 1929 in Wigan district), and Marjorie Stephens (birth registered during first ¼ 1932 in Wigan district).

References
  1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. Williams, Graham; Lush, Peter; Farrar, David (2009). The British Rugby League Records Book. London League. pp. 108–114. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6.
  3. "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  4. Irvin Saxton (publish date tbc) "History of Rugby League – № 32 – 1926–27". Rugby Leaguer ISBN n/a
  5. "1925–1926 Championship Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  6. "Statistics at wigan.rlfans.com". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  7. "Historic Wigan RL Moments: 1929 Challenge Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  8. "1928-1929 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  9. "Marriage details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
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