 Bancroft in his Wales rugby jersey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | William James Bancroft | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 2 March 1871 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Swansea,[1] Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 3 March 1959 (aged 88) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Swansea, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 5+1⁄2 in (166 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 11 st (154 lb; 70 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Jack Bancroft (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | cobbler[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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William James Bancroft [3] (2 March 1871 – 3 March 1959) was a Welsh international fullback, who played club rugby for Swansea, and a county cricketer for Glamorgan, for whom he was the first professional player in 1895.
Bancroft was seen as one of the first true stars of Welsh rugby and played rugby with extreme self-confidence.[2][4] He possessed great speed and was an excellent kicker of the ball,[5] though some critics felt his defensive play was weak. His brother Jack also played rugby for Wales.
- ^ "Player Profile". Welsh Rugby Union. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ a b Smith (1980), p. 83.
- ^ Williams, G. (2004, September 23). Bancroft, William James (1871–1959), rugby player and cricketer. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 12 Oct. 2020
- ^ Thomas (1979), p. 15.
- ^ Smith (1980), p. 82.