The initiative, voted for by the full WRU board, means the uncapped players – a group of 25 who featured across seven matches including the ‘Victory Internationals’ of 1945 and 1946 – will now be honoured for representing the nation in rugby union.
Perhaps the highest profile Welshman to be honoured is the former national team head coach and Llanelli Scarlets legend Gareth Jenkins, who played for Wales on tour in Japan in 1975, but the most recent beneficiary is Jeremy Stephen Griffiths who played against Romania in 1979.
The matches were all played against opposition who were awarded caps by their respective Unions at the time, but, for one reason or another, the WRU withheld the honour from their players.
President’s Cap records will be held separately so as not to cause a knock on effect in the history books and alter cap numbers of players who have since represented Wales, or individuals who played in these games but also went on to be awarded full honours.
The new caps were presented before tonight’s Wales game v Tonga to 22 of the 25 players, or family members of the players wherever possible by WRU president Dennis Gethin. The players and their families later viewed the specially commissioned honours board which has been hung alongside the international players and referees’ boards in the Millennium Stadium.
“I am delighted that the contribution of these players to Welsh international rugby is now recorded in this way,” said Mr Gethin.
“It is also important that the contribution of those players no longer with us is not forgotten, especially those who represented their country in the victory internationals after the Second World War.”
Former Cardiff lock Lyn Baxter who played in the first Test on the 1968 tour to Argentina said, “It’s the only thing I’ve wanted since I was five years old so I’m thrilled to have been recognised in this way. I missed out on a Five Nations cap in 1968 through injury but then went on a tough summer tour to Argentina.”
Gareth Jenkins added, “It’s an honour to have received this cap, and a joy to meet up with all the other recipients of the President’s Caps dating back to the Second World War.”
Most of the players in question, or members of their families were present to receive the caps, but the Welsh Rugby Union would be delighted to receive any information to help find the families of Rheinallt Hugh Lloyd-Davies who played in the 1945 victory international against France, Hubert Edward Jones and William E Williams who both played in the 1946 victory international.
The matches that have been classed as eligible for players receiving a President’s Cap are:
1945 – Victory International Wales v France
1946 – Victory International France v Wales
1968 – Argentina v Wales (1st Test)
1968 – Argentina v Wales (2nd Test)
1974 – Wales v Tonga
1975 – Japan v Wales
1979 – Wales XV v Romania
President’s Cap recipients:
VICTORY INTERNATIONAL WALES v FRANCE 1945
Rheinallt Hugh Lloyd-Davies
Graham George Hale
David Glyn Jones
William James Darch
Elwyn Gwyther
Sedley James George Davies
Watkin Elvet Jones
VICTORY INTERNATIONAL FRANCE v WALES 1946
William E Williams
David Glyn Davies
David John Davies
Hubert Edward Jones
John Henry Bale
William Glydwr Jones
ARGENTINA v WALES 1968 (1ST TEST)
Glenville Ball *
Andrew Kenvyn Morgan
Glyndwr Robert Turner *
Brian Leslie Butler
Lyn David Baxter
ARGENTINA v WALES 1968 (2nd TEST)
Stuart Ferguson
Robert Hugh Phillips
WALES v TONGA 1974
Colin Bolderson
Gerald Bruce Wallace
Edwin Roy Thomas
JAPAN v WALES 1975 (2ND TEST)
Gareth John James Jenkins
WALES XV v ROMANIA 1979
Jeffrey Stephen Griffiths
*Played in both test matches Argentina 1968
