John Strand-Jones

John Strand-Jones (2 December 1877 – 3 April 1958) was a Welsh rugby union player, who represented the Wales national rugby union team on five occasions in 1902 and 1903. His profession was in the clergy of the Anglican Church.

John Strand-Jones

Birth name	John Strand-Jones
Date of birth	(1877-12-02)2 December 1877
Place of birth	Caio, Wales
Date of death	3 April 1958(1958-04-03) (aged 80)
Place of death	Pencarreg, Wales
University	St David's College, Lampeter Oxford University
Occupation(s)	Anglican clergyman
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) Lampeter Town RFC Llanelli RFC Oxford University RFC Liverpool F.C. London Welsh RFC () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1902–1903 Wales[1] 5 (11)

Life

Strand-Jones was born on 2 December 1877 in Caio, Carmarthenshire.[2] He was educated at St David's College, Lampeter, at Jesus College, Oxford from 1898 to 1901, graduating B.A. in 1899, and finished his theological training at St Michael's College, Aberdare.[3] He played rugby for Oxford University RFC in 1899 at centre and in 1900 and 1901 at fullback.[4]

He made his debut for Wales in the Home Nations Championship against England on 11 January 1902, playing at fullback and scoring a penalty.[2] He also created one of the tries for Wales.[5] He played in the other matches against Scotland (scoring a conversion) and Ireland.[2] Wales won all three matches, winning the championship and the Triple Crown.[5] In the following year, he played against England (scoring a conversion) and Scotland.[2] It was said of Strand-Jones that he made himself one of the "immortals".[5]

Strand-Jones also won distinction as a tennis and hockey player, and once played for the Wales International hockey team.[6]

Strand-Jones was ordained in the Church of England as deacon in 1903 and priest in 1904. He was curate at Mold, Flintshire from 1903 to 1908, and at Corwen, Denbighshire [3] before going to serve as an army chaplain in India in 1909, becoming based in garrisons in the Punjab under the Diocese of Lahore, (most of the territory of which is now part of Pakistan).[7] During the First World War he served within India and became senior chaplain to the Waziristan Field Force on the North-West Frontier in 1916-17. He was remembered as a keen organiser of hockey, football and cricket matches for troops.[6]

After leaving the army, he then ministered in England as Rector of Hanwood, Shropshire from 1929 to 1934 and for much of the same period was also Chaplain at Shrewsbury Prison.[3]

On retirement, he moved back to Wales to become a farmer near Lampeter.[4] He was chairman of Lampeter Town RFC 1947–48. He died in 1958 aged 80. One of his former international colleagues, Rhys Gabe, said that Strand-Jones "was always reliable on the field and a gentleman with kindly feelings and high principles off the field".[5]

References

1. Welsh Rugby Union player profiles
2. "Strand Jones". Player stats. www.scrum.com. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
3. Crockford's Clerical Directory 1957-58. p. 631.
4. Baker, J. N. L. (1971). Jesus College, Oxford 1571–1971. London: Oxonian Press Ltd. p. 98. ISBN 0-9502164-0-2.
5. "Lampeter Town RFC – History". Lampeter Town RFC. Archived from the original on 2007-08-28. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
6. "New Rector of Hanwood. A Rugby International. 20 Years as Chaplain in India". Shrewsbury Chronicle. 25 October 1929. p. 3.
7. Mangan J.A., Pleasure, Profit, Proselytism British Culture and Sport at Home and Abroad 1700-1914, Frank Cass. London pg. 138