BANCROFT, WILLIAM JOHN (1871-1959), rugby player and cricketer.

Born 2 March 1871, son of William Bancroft, Carmarthen Arms, Waterloo Street, Swansea, the eldest of 11 children. He plied his craft as a shoemaker. He was born in Carmarthen but was brought up in the shadow of Saint Helen's sports ground, Swansea. He played for the local youth team, the Excelsiors, before playing his first game for Swansea on 5 October 1889. After only 17 games, and without a trial, he was chosen to play for Wales against Scotland in February 1890 after the first choice, Tom England of Newport, was injured.

Bancroft proceeded to gain 33 caps in consecutive matches between 1890 and 1901, a record which was not broken until 1954, by Ken Jones (Newport). He was an incomparable back with the keen eyes and sure hands of a professional cricketer; he spent long hours perfecting his kick, and it was his penalty drop-kick which won the match against England in 1893, when Wales gained the triple crown for the first time ever. He led Wales to its second crown in 1900. He was one of the first to be employed as a professional player by Glamorgan Cricket Club (founded in 1888) in 1895 at £2 per week. He died 3 March 1959 at Swansea.

His brother, JACK BANCROFT (1879 - 1942), was a notable back for Swansea and Wales, winning 13 caps between 1908 and 1912.

Author

• Professor Gareth W. Williams

Sources

• J. B. G. Thomas, Great rugger players, 1900-1954 (London 1955)
• David Smith and Gareth Williams, Fields of Praise. The official history of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981 (Cardiff 1980)
• J. H. Morgan, Glamorgan County Cricket (London 1952)
• South Wales Evening Post, 4 March 1959
• South Wales Echo, 4 March 1959

Published date: 2001

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/