Alfred Brice

Alfred "Bobby" Brice

Brice in Welsh jersey
Birth name	Alfred Bailey Brice
Date of birth	(1871-09-23)23 September 1871
Place of birth	Weare, Somerset, England
Date of death	28 May 1938(1938-05-28) (aged 66)
Place of death	Port Talbot, Wales
Height	179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	89 kg (14 st 0 lb)
School	Tynewydd Junior School, 1873-1874
Occupation(s)	policeman[1]
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) ≤1897-1903 Ogmore Vale RFC () 1903-1909 Aberavon RFC () 1897-? Cardiff RFC () Glamorgan Police RFC () 1909 Somerset 2 () – Leicester Tigers () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1899-1904 Wales 18 (8)

Alfred "Bobby" Brice (21 September 1871 – 28 May 1938)^[2] was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Ogmore Vale, Aberavon and Cardiff. A three times Triple Crown winner, Brice was known for his tough and aggressive tackling play.^[3]

Brice was one of several 'Valley forwards' who was chosen to represent his country at the turn of the century. Although he began his international career with Aberavon, a club he would captain from 1901 to 1903;^[3] he would later play for Cardiff.

Rugby career

Brice was first capped for Wales in a home game at St Helens in 1899 against England; though it would be the final match of the tournament against Ireland in which Brice showed his worth to the Welsh squad. After Billy Bancroft was injured after being thrown into the crowd, the Welsh were a man down to a highly motivated Irish team. Brice tackled well and covered the loose ball in a match that was disturbed by constant pitch invasions.^[3] Although Wales lost by a solitary try it showed a strong defence that would serve Wales well as they entered their first 'Golden Era'. Brice played every match in the six consecutive Home Nations tournaments.

Although Brice was normally known for keeping his cool under pressure, in the 1904 match against Ireland he was reported for calling the referee, a 'thundering idiot',^[3] though it is believed his actual language was worse than that on the report. The WFU demanded that Brice apologise to Findaly, the referee, but Brice refused stating that he never used the language.^[4] Brice was suspended from the game for eight months and never played for Wales again.

In 1909 he played two games for Leicester Tigers, against Headingley and Hartlepool Rovers on 1 and 2 January.^[5]

International matches played

Wales^[6]

•  England 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904
•  Ireland 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904
•  Scotland 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904

Bibliography

• 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.
• Thomas, Wayne (1979). A Century of Welsh Rugby Players. Ansells Ltd.

References

1. Smith (1980), pg 115.
2. Alfred Brice player profile Scrum.com
3. Thomas (1979), pg 25.
4. Smith (1980), pg 122.
5. Farmer, Stuart; Hands, David. Tigers - Official history of Leicester Football Club. The Rugby DevelopmentFoundation. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-9930213-0-5.
6. Smith (1980), pg 464.