Harry Packer
{{short description|Wales international rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Harry Packer
| image =Harry Packer (1868 – 1946).jpg
| caption = Harry Packer (1868 – 1946) rugby union player for Newport and Wales
| birth_name =
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1868|09|03|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England[http://www.blackandambers.co.uk/Personnel.aspx?pr=107067 Newport player profiles] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617054619/http://www.blackandambers.co.uk/Personnel.aspx?pr=107067 |date=17 June 2011 }}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1945|05|25|1868|09|03|df=yes}}
| death_place = Newport, Monmouthshire
| height = {{convert|5|ft|11|in|m|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|13|st|0|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
| ru_position = Prop
| amatyears1 = 1884-1901
| amatteam1 = Newport RFC
| ru_amclubcaps =
| ru_amclubpoints =
| ru_amupdate =
| repteam1 = Wales[https://archive.today/20110526123733/http://www.wru.co.uk/12750_14256.php?player=26205&includeref=dynamic Welsh Rugby Union player profiles]
| repyears1 = 1891–1897
| repcaps1 = 7
| reppoints1 = 0
| ru_ntupdate =
| coachteams1 =
| coachyears1 =
| ru_coachupdate =
| other =
| occupation = Wholesale grocer
| spouse =
| children =
| relatives =
| school = Devon County School
West Buckland School, Barnstaple
| university =
| website =
}}
Harry Packer (9 September 1868 – 25 May 1946) was an English-born international rugby union prop who played club rugby for Newport and was capped seven times for Wales. Packer had a long association with rugby, as a player, selector, official and in 1924 was the manager of the touring British Isles team.
International rugby career
Packer was born in Chipping Norton and educated in the South of England, playing rugby at school boy level for Devon County and West Buckland School. After moving to Wales he became part of the Newport team, and while with Newport was selected to represent Wales as part of the 1891 Home Nations Championship. Under the captaincy of William Bowen, Packer was part of the squad which faced England at Newport in the opening game of the campaign, but after Wales lost, Packer was dropped from the team. It would take four seasons for Packer to be reselected, when he was chosen for the second and third game of the 1895 Championship this time led by Welsh rugby legend Arthur Gould. Wales lost the Scotland game, but Packer experienced his first international victory in the game against Ireland at the Cardiff Arms Park.
Packer was selected for the entirety of the 1896 Championship, and was one of only three players from the pack to be retained during the Scotland game when the selectors brought in five new caps. Packer played his final international game the next year in a memorable win against England. This would be Wales' only game of the year after the team lost their international playing status due to the 'Gould Affair'
In 1924 Packer was chosen to manage the British team on their tour of South Africa.
=International matches played=
- {{ru|ENG}} 1891, 1896, 1897
- {{ru|IRE}} 1895, 1896
- {{ru|SCO}} 1895, 1896
Bibliography
- {{cite book |last=Alcock |first=C.W. |author2=Hill, Rowland |title=Famous Rugby Footballers 1895 |year=1997 |publisher=Yore Publications|location=Horefield |isbn=1-874427-42-9}}
- {{cite book |last=Godwin |first=Terry |title=The International Rugby Championship 1883-1983 |year=1984 |publisher=Willows Books |location=London |isbn=0-00-218060-X}}
- {{cite book |last=Griffiths |first=Terry |title=The Phoenix Book of International Rugby Records |year=1987 |publisher=Phoenix House |location=London |isbn=0-460-07003-7}}
- {{cite book |last=Smith |first=David |author2=Williams, Gareth |title=Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union |year=1980 |publisher=University of Wales Press |location=Cardiff |isbn=0-7083-0766-3}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{British and Irish Lions 1924}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Packer, Harry}}
Category:English rugby union players
Category:Rugby union players from Chipping Norton