Jim Birch
Birth nameJames Birch
Date of birth(1889-12-30)30 December 1889
Place of birthNorthampton, England
Date of death17 April 1968(1968-04-17) (aged 78)
Place of deathNorthampton, England
Occupation(s)Police officer
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Northampton RFC
Neath RFC
Cardiff RFC
Glamorgan Police RFC		 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1911 Wales 2 (0)

James Birch (30 December 1889 – 17 April 1968)[1] was an English-born international rugby union prop who played club rugby for Northampton and Neath was capped twice for Wales. Birch was selected for Wales in a tit for tat reprisal by the Welsh Rugby Union after the Rugby Football Union selected Welshman Stanley Williams for England.

Rugby career

Birch first came to note as a rugby player when he turned out for Northampton at the age of sixteen. He moved to Wales where he joined Neath. He was selected by the Welsh Rugby Union to play for the Wales national team during the 1911 Five Nations Championship, playing in two games, against France and Scotland. This was an excellent campaign for Wales and Birch found himself part of a Triple Crown and Grand Slam winning team.

As well as representing Neath, Birch also played for Glamorgan Police RFC, after joining the Glamorgan Constabulary in April 1910. In 1912 he switched clubs to first-class side Cardiff and spent three seasons with the club from 1912-13 to 1919-1920. He made 175 appearances for Cardiff. On his retirement he returned to Northampton where he served on the Northampton RFC committee.

International matches played

Wales[2]

Bibliography

  • Godwin, Terry (1984). The International Rugby Championship 1883-1983. London: Willows Books. ISBN 0-00-218060-X.
  • Griffiths, John (1987). The Phoenix Book of International Rugby Records. London: Phoenix House. ISBN 0-460-07003-7.
  • 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

  1. ↑ Jim Birch player profile Scrum.com
  2. ↑ Smith (1980), pg 463.
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