Eddie Watkins

Eddie Watkins (2 March 1916 – 28 June 1995)[2] was a Welsh dual-code international rugby player who played club rugby under the union code for Cardiff, and later professional league rugby with Wigan. As a union player Watkins was part of the 1939 team which won the Home Nations Championship, and was more famously a member of the Welsh side that beat the touring All Blacks in 1935. In 1939 he joined Wigan and played in three internationals during the war years for Wales league side against England.

Eddie Watkins
Birth nameEdward Verdun Watkins
Date of birth(1916-03-02)2 March 1916
Place of birthCaerphilly, Wales
Date of death28 June 1995(1995-06-28) (aged 79)
Place of deathCardiff, Wales
SchoolCaerphilly Secondary School
Occupation(s)Police officer
School teacher
Rugby league career
Position(s) Forward
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1939-? Wigan ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1941-1945 Wales 3 (0)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Bedwas RFC ()
– Cardiff RFC ()
– Royal Air Force ()
– Glamorgan Police ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1935-1939 Wales[1] 8 (0)

During the Second World War he served in the Special Investigation Branch of the Royal Air Force, and played in two Services internationals.[3]

Rugby union career

Watkins began his club rugby days with Bedwas before moving to first class side Cardiff. In 1935, Watkins was chosen by Cardiff to face the touring New Zealand team. Cardiff were hoping that a strong pack containing Watkins, Les Spence and Gwyn Williams would give the club an advantage against the All Blacks, but were soundly beaten in an exciting game.[4]

Watkins gained his was first cap for Wales in 1935 again against New Zealand. In a memorable game, Wales turned around a losing score-line in the last ten minutes to beat the All Blacks 13-12. Watkins was not selected for Wales throughout 1936, but was back for the final two games of the 1937 Home Nations Championship. It was a poor campaign for Wales and Watkins, with Wales losing all matches during the 1937 campaign. Watkins was reselected for the 1938 Championship, playing all three games. The opening game was against England at the Cardiff Arms Park, and under the captaincy of Cardiff team-mate Cliff Jones, Watkins was involved in his first Home Nations victory. In 1939 Watkins took part in his last Home Nations campaign, and although missing the game against Ireland, he was still a member of a Wales Championship winning team as Wilf Wooller's team lifted the trophy with wins over Ireland and Scotland.

International games played

Wales, rugby union[5]

Rugby league career

In March 1939 Watkins joined professional rugby league team Wigan for a reported fee of £600,[6] making his first appearance for the club on 18 March. During his time with Wigan, he made three appearances for the Wales national rugby league side, his first was played at Odsal against England on 18 October 1941.

Championship Final appearances

Eddie Watkins played right-second-row, i.e. number 12, in Wigan's 12–5 victory over Dewsbury in the Championship Final second-leg during the 1943–44 season at Crown Flatt, Dewsbury on Saturday 20 May 1944 (Jack Cayzer having played right-second-row in the first-leg),[7] and played right-second-row in the 13-4 victory over Huddersfield in the Championship Final during the 1945–46 season at Maine Road, Manchester on Saturday 18 May 1946.[8]

International games played

Wales, rugby league

Bibliography
  • Billot, John (1972). All Blacks in Wales. Ferndale: Ron Jones Publications.
  • Godwin, Terry (1984). The International Rugby Championship 1883-1983. London: Willows Books. ISBN 0-00-218060-X.
  • Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.
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References
  1. Wales Rugby Union player profiles
  2. Eddie Watkins rugby union profile Scrum.com
  3. Jenkins, John M.; et al. (1991). Who's Who of Welsh International Rugby Players. Wrexham: Bridge Books. p. 162. ISBN 1-872424-10-4.
  4. Billot (1972), pg 96.
  5. Smith (1980), pg 472.
  6. Gate, Robert (1986). Gone North: Volume 1. Ripponden: R.E. Gate. p. 17. ISBN 0-9511190-0-1.
  7. "1943–1944 War Emergency League Championship Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  8. "1945–1946 Championship Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.

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