William Charles "Wick" Powell (1905–1973) was a Welsh international rugby union scrum-half who played club rugby for London Welsh 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.[3]

Wick Powell
Birth nameWilliam Charles Powell
Date of birth1905
Place of birthAberbeeg, Blaenau Gwent, Wales[1]
Date of death1973 (aged 67–68)
Place of deathSouth Africa
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight11 st 0 lb (70 kg)
Occupation(s)architect
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Abertillery RFC
Crawshays RFC
London Welsh RFC
London Wasps
Northampton Saints
The Army
Barbarians F.C.
Middlesex County
()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1926-1935 Wales[2] 27 (13)

Rugby career

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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 Ian Smith, who had scored seven tries in his last two games against Wales.[4] 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

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Wales[5]

  •   England 1927, 1929, 1931, 1932, 1935
  •   France 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931
  •   Ireland 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1935
  •   South Africa 1931
  •   Scotland 1926, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1935

Bibliography

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  • Goodwin, Terry (1984). The International Rugby Championship 1883-1983. London: Willow 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.
  • Thomas, Wayne (1979). A Century of Welsh Rugby Players. Ansells Ltd.

References

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  1. ^ Newport Gwent Dragons player profiles
  2. ^ Welsh Rugby Union player profiles
  3. ^ Thomas (1979), p. 66.
  4. ^ Goodwin (1984), p. 158.
  5. ^ Smith (1980), p. 470.