Harry Bowcott
1929-1933
Born in Cardiff, Bowcott rose to prominence as a schoolboy prodigy during the 1920s before attending St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, where outstanding performances in successful Varsity Matches for the Light Blues announced his arrival in senior rugby.He had tremendous all-round ability and early in his career was happy to play almost anywhere in the back division.
But it was at outside half that Bowcott developed into one of the best players of his generation and deservedly earned his place in that exclusive group of all-time greats who have worn the No 10 jersey for the Lions and Wales.
He won a total of eight caps for Wales, having made his debut for Wales in the victory over Scotland at Swansea in 1929.
He played in 20 of the 27 Lions games on the 1930 tour to New Zealand and Australia including all five Tests.
Bowcott played club rugby for Cardiff and London Welsh. Off the field, Bowcott worked as a civil servant but found the time to become one of Welsh rugby’s leading administrators. He was a member of the Welsh Rugby Union general committee for two decades, and Welsh selector from 1963 to 1974. Finally, he was President of the WRU in the 1974/75 season.
Sadly Harry died on the 14th December 2004.
