This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who served in, and survived, The Great War. If anyone has further information on the men concerned, I’d be most grateful if it could be added to the thread. Gareth Jowett, William Frederick played for Wales Internationals: 1 : 1903 E+ William Jowett was born in 1879 in Swansea Played as a Wing for: Swansea Profession: Schoolmaster Remarks: Great Britain tour of Australia and New Zealand 1904. Joined the Rugby League (Hull Kingston Rovers RLFC). War service: Corporal, Welsh Ammunition Column. He died on 5 October 1939 in Clydach.
Born : 1879, Swansea Died : 5 October 1939, Clydach Position : Wing Major Teams : Swansea, Glamorgan, Hull Kingston Rovers (Rugby League), Wales Wales Caps : 1. Points : 0. British Isles : 1904 to Australia & New Zealand. William Frederick Jowett first played for Swansea in the 1901-02 season on the wing where he started to build a reputation as a prolific try scorer ending his first season behind Dan Rees (20) and the great Billy Trew (19) with 17 tries. In the 1902-03 season Jowett scored an astounding 42 tries, a record in a season which still stands at Swansea RFC. In the 1903-04 season he was again top try scorer (29)but this time jointly with Billy Trew. In 1903 he gained his only cap for Wales which was against England fittingly at his home ground of St Helens on 10th January 1903. He played alongside 3 of his Swansea team mates that day (Dan Rees, Dickie Owen and Will Joseph). The game which Wales won 21 - 5 was remarkable for the exploits of Wales forward Jehoida Hodges who through injury to another player, was moved to the other wing and scored 3 tries, a rather difficult feat to emulate for Jowett on his International debut! In May 1904 Jowett along with his Swansea team mate Sid Bevan were selected for the British Isles touring party to Australia & New Zealand thus making him Swansea's first British Lion (of 23 till 2001). He played at wing in 6 tour games scoring 3 tries,though missing out on the lost test against New Zealand. 25-06-1904 NSW Waratahs 1 try (won: 26 - 9) 29-06-1904 Metropolitan 1 try (won: 19 - 6) 06-07-1904 Northern Districts (won: 17 3) 27-07-1904 New England 1 try (won: 26 - 9) 10-08-1904 Otago/Southland (won: 14 - 8) 31-08-1904 NSW Waratahs (won: 5 - 0) Jowett was an integral part of the 1904-05 'Invincible' Swansea side who went undefeated during that season winning 28 games with 4 draws and no defeats. This season was the culmination of 6 out of 7 consecutive Championships won from 1898-99. In September 1905 Fred Jowett was approached by the breakaway 'Northern League' side of Hull kingston Rovers to play as a proffessional with them. As a Schoolmaster in difficult economic times in South Wales, he accepted and scored a try on his debut for them on 23rd September 1905. During the Great War he served as a Corporal in the Welsh Ammunition Column. Four rugby caps won by Fred Jowett, were for sale ... a red Wales international cap dated 1903; a maroon British Isles Australian Rugby Football Tour cap with a wirework kangaroo and dated 1904; a maroon, blue & green rugby league cap with emblematic symbols of Wales, Scotland and Ireland and dated 1905-6; and a blue Swansea RFC cap dated 1901-2 William Frederick Jowett was born at Swansea on 1st July 1879. His one international appearance for Wales was in the England match in 1903. He also made one appearance on the British Isles tour of 1904. Jowett, a winger, was a prolific try scorer and his 42 tries for Swansea in season 1902-03 still remains an all-time club record. He was a member of Swansea's celebrated 'invincibles' team of 1904-05. He later went 'north' to turn professional and scored on his debut for Hull KR on 23rd September 1905. Fred Jowett died at Clydach 5th October 1939. http://www.grahambuddauctions.co.uk/bidcat/detail.asp?SaleRef=GB11&LotRef=1093 Heres a picture !!
