Charlie Pritchard

Charlie Pritchard

Pritchard in Newport jersey
Full name	Charles Mayrick Pritchard
Date of birth	(1882-09-30)30 September 1882
Place of birth	Newport,[1] Monmouthshire
Date of death	14 August 1916(1916-08-14) (aged 33)
Place of death	Chocques, France[2]
Height	5 ft 11 in[3]
Weight	13 st 10 lb
School	Long Ashton School, Bristol
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Back Row
Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team
1901-1911	Newport RFC Monmouthshire
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1904-1910	Wales	14	(3)

Captain Charlie Pritchard (1882–1916) was a Welsh international rugby union player. He was a member of the winning Welsh team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks. He played club rugby for Newport RFC and county rugby for Monmouthshire.

Rugby career

Pritchard joined Newport in 1901, and on 25 January played his first senior game, facing Swansea. He spent his entire rugby career with Newport and during the 1905/06 season was made vice-captain; but after the captain Wyatt Gould was unable to fulfil his duties, Pritchard acted as stand-in captain.^[4] The next season he was given the captaincy, a role he held for three consecutive seasons.

International career

Pritchard made his debut for Wales against Ireland in 1904, while playing club rugby for Newport. Pritchard would play in a further 13 internationals including the game against the famous 1905 All Black touring team. Although all the Welsh players on the day played their part in the victory over the New Zealanders, Pritchard was commended for his all out defensive play and continual heavy tackling against the All Blacks. He was seen as the star of the Welsh pack and was 'always in the thick of the fight';^[5] fellow Welsh international George Travers would sum up Pritchard's aggressive play against the All Blacks as 'He knocked 'em down like nine pins.'^[3][5]

Pritchard would score his only international try in a 16-3 win against England in a home nations match on 13 January 1906. After a serious injury in 1908 he returned to the Welsh side in the 1909/10 season and played his final game against England in 1910.^[6]

1905 Wales squad, Charlie Pritchard, middle row, far left

International games played

Wales^[7]

•  England 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1910
•  France 1910
•  Ireland 1904, 1906, 1907
•  New Zealand 1905
•  Scotland 1905, 1906, 1907
•  South Africa 1906

Military service and death

During World War I Pritchard joined the South Wales Borderers and in June 1916 he was transferred to the Western Front as a captain in the 12th Battalion. On 13 August 1916 he was involved in manoeuvers to capture prisoners from German trenches. Although the raid was successful in its objective Pritchard was seriously wounded and brought to No 1. Casualty Clearing Station. His last reported words were to ask if they had got the "Hun", and when told they had, he replied 'Well, I have done my bit.' Pritchard died of his wounds the next day without leaving the Station.^[3]

Bibliography

• Parry-Jones, David (1999). Prince Gwyn, Gwyn Nicholls and the First Golden Era of Welsh Rugby. Bridgend: seren. ISBN 1-85411-262-7. 
• Thomas, Wayne (1979). A Century of Welsh Rugby Players. Ansells Ltd. 
• 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