Frank Purdon

Frank Thomas Purdon (8 November 1857 – ?) was an Irish-born rugby union forward who played club rugby for Newport and Swansea. Purdon was capped four times for Wales including the first Wales international, against England in 1881.

Frank Purdon

Birth name	Frank Thomas Purdon
Date of birth	(1857-11-08)8 November 1857
Place of birth	County Westmeath, Ireland
Notable relative(s)	Billy Geen, nephew
Occupation(s)	clerk
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward, Half-back Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) ? 1880-1887 1882-? Machen RFC Newport RFC Swansea RFC () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1881–1883 Wales 4 (0)

Rugby career

Purdon was selected, while a Newport player, for Richard Mullock's Wales to face England in the first Welsh international at Blackheath on 19 February 1881. Wales were humiliated, and the national press blamed the team selection, with the players apparently chosen to appease the principal rugby clubs rather than selected on the basis of ability. Many of the Welsh players from that game never played for Wales again, but Purdon was back for Wales second international game, played in 1882 against Ireland in Dublin.

Purdon played his last two matches for Wales after transferring to Swansea, and was a member of the Welsh squad that took part in the first Home Nations Championship under the captaincy of Charles Lewis. Wales lost both games and Purdon was not re-selected for the 1884 tournament.

International matches played

Wales

• England 1881, 1882
• Ireland 1882
• Scotland 1883

Bibliography

• Goodwin, Terry (1984). The International Rugby Championship 1883-1983. London: Willows Books. ISBN 0-00-218060-X.
• 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.