GABE, RHYS THOMAS (REES THOMAS GAPE; 1880 - 1967), rugby player

Born 22 June 1880 in Llangennech, Carmarthenshire. He played locally before representing Llanelli for the first time when he was 17 years old. He won the first of his 24 caps (1901-08) on the wing against Ireland on 21 March 1901. It was as a centre that he gained fame. He possessed all the skills; he was unyielding in defence, when attacking he ran straight and with determination. Deceptive, firm and boney, he was difficult to tackle. In 1901 he began a teacher s' training course at Borough Road College, London, and played for a period with London Welsh. After travelling to Australia with the British team in 1904, he returned to be a teacher in Cardiff, and scored 51 tries in 115 games for the city's club before resigning in 1908. He made a key contribution to the historic Welsh win (3-0) against the All Blacks in 1905, and with Erith Gwyn Nicholls, William ('Willie') Morris Llewellyn and Edward ('E.T.') Morgan he formed the most brilliant three-quarter line that ever played for Wales. He died 15 September 1967 at Cardiff.

Author

• Professor Gareth W. Williams

Sources

• W. Thomas, A century of Welsh rugby players (Birmingham 1980)(1980)
• David Smith and Gareth Williams, Fields of Praise. The official history of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981 (Cardiff 1980) (1980)
• Western Mail and The Times, 18 September 1967

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: Rhys Gabe

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q3401357

Published date: 2001

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