Jehoida Hodges

Jehoida Hodges

Hodges in Newport jersey
Full name	Joseph Jehoida Hodges
Date of birth	(1876-07-15)15 July 1876
Place of birth	Risca,[1] Monmouthshire, Wales
Date of death	13 September 1930(1930-09-13) (aged 54)
Place of death	Waunlwyd, Wales
Height	5 ft 9 in[2]
Weight	13 st
Occupation(s)	miner publican
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Forward
Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team
??? 1897/1909	London Welsh Newport RFC
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1899-1906	Wales	23	(18)

Joseph Jehoida Hodges^[3] (15 July 1876-13 September 1930) was a Welsh international rugby union player.^[4] He was a member of the winning Welsh team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks. He played club rugby for London Welsh and Newport RFC.

Hodges, along with fellow Welsh internationals George Boots, and later George Travers is recognised with adopting forward formation play in scrums and line outs. Although forwards were responsible for these areas of play there was little defined tactics or specialisation before the early twentieth century. Hodges helped bring tactical formations and therefore a level of specialisation to forward play.^[2] He was described as a hard working and an excellent all-round player who could fill in at most positions,^[5] even on the wing.^[6]

International career

Wales

Hodges made his debut for Wales against England in 1899, after only his second season playing for Newport. Hodges played in three Triple Crown winning campaigns, provided forward resistance^[7] against the famous 1905 All Black 'loose head' and was part of Wales' first away win to Scotland. The later included a full on fist fight between the packs.^[2]

One of Hodges most impressive moments in a Welsh shirt was in the 1903 match against England. Welsh winger Tom Pearson had taken a heavy blow to the ribs by England's notoriously heavy tackler^[8] Gamlin, and was forced to retire. Hodges showed his famous adaptability when moved to the wing to cover Pearson's position and scored three tries in a 21-5 victory for the Welsh.^[8]

1905 Wales squad, Hodges, middle row, second from left

International games played

Wales^[9]

• England 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906
• Ireland 1899, 1900, 1902, 1903, 1905, 1906
• New Zealand 1905
• Scotland 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906

Later career and death

After leaving club rugby Hodges became a publican, first at the Salvation Hotel in Newport and then at the Park Hotel, Waunlwyd. Hodges died on September 13, 1930, his body was returned to his birth town of Risca where he was buried on September 17 at Cromwell Road cemetery. His coffin was borne by former Welsh internationals.

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