Tommy Vile
Birth name | Thomas Henry Vile | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 6 September 1882 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Newport,[1] Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of death | 30 October 1958 | (aged 76)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of death | Newport, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Newport Intermediate School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Occupation(s) | businessman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Major Thomas Henry Vile MBE (6 September 1882 – 30 October 1958) was a Welsh international
Club career
Vile took part in a trial for Newport in 1900 at the age of 17 and despite his slight build was chosen as a forward. Due to injuries to other players, Vile got his chance and was accepted into the Newport ranks and in 1902 made his first-class debut for the club. During the 1903/04 season he became the club's regular scrum-half. Vile was a master of the reverse pass and was also a strong kicker who scored many drop goals for his club.
In 1909 he was made captain of Newport and showed himself as a great offensive tactician; and in the 1911/12 season lead his team to the Club Championship. In 1912, Vile alongside team partner
International career
Wales
Vile made his debut for
After a terrible display against England in 1913 Vile was dropped by the selectors, but, surprisingly, was reselected after the First World War to captain Wales against Scotland in 1921 at the age of 37.[4]
British Isles
In 1904 Vile was chosen to tour Australasia[5] under the captaincy of Bedell-Sivright. Vile would play in three tests for Britain but strangely it would take him another four years until he was called up to represent his own country.[6]
International games played
Wales[7]
- England 1908, 1913
- Ireland 1910, 1912
- France 1912
- Scotland 1908, 1921
- South Africa 1912
British Isles
- Australia 1904 (3rd Test)
- New Zealand 1904
International referee career
After the end of his playing career, Vile became a referee and in 1923 refereed his first international rugby match, between Scotland and France. In total he would referee 12 internationals between 1923 and 1931.[8]
Military service
In World War II, Vile was a lieutenant in the
Bibliography
- Grant, Philip J (2010). Tommy Vile: A Giant of a Man. Llandysul: Gomer Press. ISBN 978-0-9567271-0-7.
- 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
- ^ WRU player profiles[permanent dead link]
- ^ Newport RFC player profiles Archived 18 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Thomas (1979), pg49
- ^ Thomas (1979), pg50
- ^ Smith (1980), pg 148.
- ^ Smith (1980), pg 131.
- ^ Smith (1980), pg 472.
- ^ WRU Welsh International Role of Honour
- ^ "No. 36998". The London Gazette. 23 March 1945. p. 1602.