Thomas Pryce-Jenkins

Dr. Thomas John Pryce-Jenkins (1 February 1862 - 6 August 1922) was a Welsh international rugby union wing who played club rugby for London Welsh and county rugby for Middlesex. Pryce-Jenkins represented Wales twice but he is more notable within the field of rugby for being a founding member of London Welsh.

Thomas Pryce-Jenkins

Dr T J Pryce-Jenkins circa 1909
Birth name	Thomas John Pryce-Jenkins
Date of birth	1 February 1862
Place of birth	Carmarthen, Wales
Date of death	6 August 1922 (aged 60)
Place of death	London, England
School	Llandovery College
University	Cambridge University
Occupation(s)	doctor
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) London Welsh RFC Blackheath F.C. St. Bart's Hospital Middlesex () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1888 Wales[1] 2 (0)

Personal history

Pryce-Jenkins was born in 1864 to the rector of Llanllwch, a village outside Carmarthen in South Wales.[2] He was educated at Llandovery College and later Cambridge University. After leaving university, Pryce-Jones took time away from education and joined a touring theatrical company. After four years he returned to London and completed his medical studies, setting up a surgery at Hills Place behind the Palladium. A strong athlete he turned his amateur interest in games into his medical speciality, treating athletic injuries. Notable patients included runners Alfred Shrubb and Reggie Walker.[3] He would later treat players from London Welsh never charging them for his services.[3]

Pryce-Jenkins took a leading role in the formation of the London Welsh Battalion at the outbreak of World War I, and became a medical advisor at the London Depot. Pryce-Jenkins was also an amateur writing, completing several short stories and a play, 'Sands of Time'.[3]

Pryce-Jenkins died in 1922 at the age of 58, he was buried at Marylebone Cemetery.[2]

Rugby career

In 1885 a group of rugby enthusiasts met to form a rugby club within London, specifically for Welsh players. An informal meeting took place that year, followed by an official formation at the Arlington Hotel in Fleet Street on 24 June. Pryce-Jenkins was one of those present and became a member of the first committee.[4]

Although representing other clubs before this time, Pryce-Jenkins played the majority of his club rugby for London Welsh, and was still playing for the club when he was selected to represent Wales in 1888. His first cap was against Scotland under the captaincy of Tom Clapp, and Pryce-Jenkins scored the only points of the game when he ran half the length of the pitch to score in the first half. Wales are then reported to have killed the game by lying on the ball or kicking it continually out of touch. His second and final international match was an away trip against Ireland, which Wales lost.

International matches played

Wales[5]

•  Ireland 1888
•  Scotland 1888

Bibliography

• Jones, Stephen; Paul Beken (1985). Dragon in Exile, The Centenary History of London Welsh R.F.C. London: Springwood Books. ISBN 0-86254-125-5.
• 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

1. Welsh Rugby Union player profiles
2. Jones (1985), pg 5.
3. Jones (1985), pg 4.
4. Jones (1985), pg 3.
5. Smith (1980), pg 470.