Iorwerth Isaac (12 October 1911 – 25 April 1966) commonly known as Iorrie Isaac, was a Welsh dual-code international rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s. He played representative rugby union (RU) for Wales, and at club level for Pontypridd and Cardiff, as a flanker, i.e. number 6 or 7,[1][2] and representative rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for Leeds, as a prop, or second-row, i.e. number 8 or 10, or, 11 or 12, during the era of contested scrums.[3][4]

Iorrie Isaac
Birth nameIorweth Isaac
Date of birth(1911-10-12)12 October 1911
Place of birthCilfynydd, Wales
Date of death25 April 1966(1966-04-25) (aged 54)
Place of deathWrexham, Wales
SchoolPontypridd Grammar School
Notable relative(s)David Phillip Isaac (son) Jonathan Iorwerth Isaac, Bethan Jane Batty (Grandchildren)
SpouseMary Mathias
ChildrenDavid Phillip Isaac
Occupation(s)police officer
headteacher
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Cilfynydd RFC ()
Cardiff RFC ()
Glamorgan Police RFC ()
Pontypridd RFC ()
Penarth RFC ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1933 Wales[1][2] 2 (0)
Rugby league career
Playing information
PositionProp, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1933 Leeds R.L.F.C.
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1933–35 Wales[3] 2 9

Rugby career edit

Isaac was first selected for Wales in their opening game of the 1933 Home Nations Championship. The match was against England at their national stadium, Twickenham. Wales had failed to win at the ground in their first nine attempts, and the Welsh failure at the ground was known as the 'Twickenham bogey'. Isaac was placed at open-side flanker, opposite the veteran Tom Arthur who was positioned on the blind side.[5] Isaac, along with Turnbull, and Arthur, continually spoiled the English scrum.[6] When Isaac caused the English half-backs to loose the loose maul, Watcyn Thomas heeled the ball back for Wooller, and then Davey to feed Ronnie Boon who scored a Welsh try.[7] The game ended 7–3, with all the Welsh points scored by Boon, who had also placed a drop goal. Isaacs played just one more international game in the very next match of the Home Nations Championship against Scotland at St. Helens, his international career identical to that of Raymond Bark-Jones.

At the start of the 1933/34 season Isaac left rugby union behind when he 'Went North' switching to the professional rugby league game, joining Leeds RLFC.

International matches played edit

Wales[8]

International Rugby League honours edit

Isaac won caps for Wales (RL) while at Leeds in 1933 against Australia, and 1935 against France.[3]

Bibliography edit

  • Godwin, Terry (1984). The International Rugby Championship 1883–1983. London: Willows Books. ISBN 0-00-218060-X.
  • Griffiths, Terry (1987). The Phoenix Book of International Rugby Records. London: Phoenix House. ISBN 0-460-07003-7.
  • 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.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Statistics at en.espn.co.uk (RU)". espn.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Statistics at wru.co.uk (RU)". wru.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ^ Williams, Graham; Lush, Peter; Farrar, David (2009). The British Rugby League Records Book. London League. pp. 108–114. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6.
  5. ^ Smith (1980), pg 274.
  6. ^ Smith (1980), pg 276.
  7. ^ Smith (1980), pg 277.
  8. ^ Smith (1980), pg 467.

External links edit