Will Parker

Not to be confused with Wil Parker.

William James Parker (1873 – 10 November 1955) was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Swansea. Parker first joined Swansea in 1893 and spent most of his sporting career with the club. During the 1903/04 season he was given the captaincy of Swansea, and the club won the championship under his leadership. He was chosen in 1905 as a member of the Swansea team to face the original touring All Blacks.

Will Parker

Birth name	William James Parker
Date of birth	1873
Place of birth	Swansea, Wales
Date of death	10 November 1955 (aged 81–82)
Place of death	Penmaen, Swansea, Wales
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1893-? Swansea RFC () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1899 Wales 2 (0)

Rugby career

Parker was selected on two occasions to represent Wales, both in the 1899 Home Nations Championship. His debut match was against England at St Helens when a then record crowd of 20,000 saw Wales overturn England 26–3, including four tries for Willie Llewellyn. Parker was chosen for the very next match against Scotland at Inverleith, but this time Wales were beaten and Parker was never re-selected.

After his retirement from rugby, Parker continued his links with the club by becoming a committee member.

International matches played

Wales

• England 1899
• Scotland 1899,

Bibliography

• 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.