Tommy Parker - Centre
Wales RLHeritage No | 110 |
Date Of Birth | 22/05/1901 |
Place Of Birth | Cwmavon |
Clubs | Barrow Raiders, Wigan Warriors, Aberavon |
Regions | Glamorgan |
Honours | Wales RL, Other Nationalities |
Managed | France, Albi |
Tommy Parker was playing rugby union for Aberavon when he turned professional with Wigan in 1923. He didn't get to win a Wales RU cap but was twice a travelling reserve. At Wigan, he made 240 appearances scoring 113 tries, playing in the first ever Wembley Challenge Cup Final in 1929 where Wigan beat Dewsbury 13-2. He also helped Wigan to a Championship Final win in 1926 and a Lancashire Cup Final win in 1928. He moved to Barrow in 1931, playing there for four years before, rarely for those days, moving abroad and signing for French club Côte Basque XIII and later coached both Albi and the French national side. He did attempt to bring his brother Gwyn, also a rugby league professional, over to France but his club York didn't release him. Whilst Tommy and Gwyn both played for Wales, it wasn't ever in the same side. When World War II broke out, Tommy moved back to Wales. He died in his home town of Cwmafan on April 17, 1969 aged 67.
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