Billy Geen
| Full name | William Purdon Geen | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 14 March 1891 | ||
| Place of birth | Newport, Monmouthshire | ||
| Date of death | 31 July 1915 (aged 24) | ||
| Place of death | Hooge, Flanders, Belgium | ||
| School | Haileybury College | ||
| University | Oxford University | ||
| Notable relative(s) | Frank Purdon, uncle | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Wing | ||
| Amateur clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | ||
| 1910–1913 ? 1910–1914 1910–1911 |
Oxford University RFC Blackheath F.C. Newport RFC Barbarian F.C. Monmouthshire | ||
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1912–1913 | Wales | 3 | (0) |
William "Billy" Purdon Geen (14 March 1891 – 31 July 1915) was a Welsh international rugby union wing who played club rugby for Newport and county rugby for Monmouthshire. Geen was selected for Wales on three occasions.[1]
Rugby career
Geen was born in Newport[2] but was educated at Haileybury College in England before being accepted into Oxford University. While at Oxford he was selected to play against Cambridge in 1910, 1911, 1912 and 1913. He joined Newport Rugby Club in 1910 and on October 24, 1912 was a member of the squad that faced the touring South African team. Geen was not first choice for the game, but when George Hirst failed to recover from an injury sustained ar Leicester the week before, Geen was his replacement.[3] It was an outstanding game for Newport, who won the game 9–3, one of only three teams to beat the Springboks on the tour and Geen played his part, bringing down Johan Stegmann when he was within sight of the try line.[4] Geen was praised after the match for his play[5] and later during the tour he gained his first cap for Wales against the same touring South Africans. Geen played just two more games for Wales, the first under the captaincy of team mate Tommy Vile in 1913 against England. His final game for Wales was in a win against Ireland two months later.
International matches played
Wales[6]
-
England 1913 - Ireland 1913
-
South Africa 1912
Military career
In August 1914, Geen signed up to serve his country, joining the King's Royal Rifle Corps. He trained in Petworth and was sent to the Front in May 1915. Originally his battalion was withdrawn from combat, but two days later it was sent to support the 41st Brigade at the Second Battle of Ypres. By the time he was killed in action at Hooge, Flanders he had reached the rank of Second Lieutenant. He has no grave but is remembered at Menin Gate.[7]
Bibliography
- Billot, John (1974). Springboks in Wales. Ferndale, Glamorgan: Ron Jones Publications.
- 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
- ↑ Welsh Rugby Union player profile
- ↑ Newport RFC player profiles
- ↑ Billot (1974), pg 93.
- ↑ Billot (1974), pg 94.
- ↑ Billot (1974), pg 98.
- ↑ Smith (1980), pg 466.
- ↑ Rugby Heroes who went to War BBC Online Matthew Ferris, November 2008