Percy Bush Explained

Percy Frank Bush
Birth Date:23 June 1879
Birth Place:Cardiff, Wales
Death Place:Cardiff, Wales
Ru Position:Fly-half, half-back
Ru Amateuryears:?
?
?
1899–1913
?
1910
?
Ru Amateurclubs:Cardiff Romilly
University College Cardiff
Penygraig RFC
Cardiff RFC
London Welsh RFC
Stade Nantais
Glamorgan
Ru Nationalteam:British Isles
Wales
Ru Nationalyears:1904
1905–1910
Ru Nationalcaps:4
8
Ru Nationalpoints:(20)
(20)
Ru Ntupdate:2007-07-27
Occupation:School teacher
University:University College, Cardiff

Percy Frank Bush (23 June 1879 – 19 May 1955)[1] was a Welsh rugby union player who played international rugby for Wales on eight occasions. Playing at fly-half, Bush is regarded as one of the most talented Welsh players of the pre-First World War era.[2]

Rugby career

Bush played most of his career for Cardiff RFC making 171 appearances and scoring 66 tries between 1899 and 1913. He captained the club for three seasons. He won eight caps[3] for Wales (1905–1910), including for the famous Match of the Century, the 1905 victory over New Zealand. He also played in four tests for the 1904 British Isles on their tour to Australia and New Zealand. This was before he had been capped by Wales. He was the undoubted star of the tour, being dubbed 'Will o' the Wisp' by the Australian press for his devastating play.[4]

Cricket career

Bush also played county cricket for Glamorgan County Cricket Club and Marylebone Cricket Club.[5] He played in three Minor Counties Cricket Championship matches between 1900 and 1903, all for Glamorgan. His first Minor Counties match was at St Helens against Wiltshire in 1900. Bush scored just 5 runs in his first innings, but his Glamorgan team won the match before he was required in the second innings. Bush failed to improve in his second match, played against Berkshire at the Cardiff Arms Park in 1902; scoring a single run in his only innings. Despite this Glamorgan won by an innings and ten runs. His final encounter for Glamorgan, was against a Surrey Second XI in 1903. Glamorgan lost the match by 61 runs, and Bush failed to enhance his record with 6 runs over two innings.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Percy Bush . ESPNscrum . 5 June 2010 .
  2. Web site: BUSH Percy Frank – Born Cardiff, 23 June 1879; died Cardiff 19 May 1955 . rugbyrelics.com . 27 July 2007.
  3. Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881–1981, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) pp464
  4. 'Cardiff Sporting Greats', Andrew Hignell and Gwyn Prescott (2007) pp62-63
  5. https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/102/102345/102345.html Percy Bush cricket statistics