James Bevan

James Alfred Bevan (15 April 1858 – 3 February 1938) was a Wales international rugby union three-quarter who played club rugby for Clifton RFC and Newport. He is best known for being the first Welsh international captain, whilst at Cambridge University.

Early life Bevan was born in St Kilda, Victoria, Australia, the son of Elizabeth (née Fly) and James Bevan. James was from Grosmont, Monmouthshire, Wales, and came to Melbourne, Victoria in 1848. Elizabeth Fly arrived with her parents and 3 brothers John, William and Charles in 1853 on board the Recruit. James Snr met 17 year old Elizabeth in Bendigo, Victoria and married soon after. He was a childhood friend of Alfred Deakin, the second Prime Minister of Australia; their fathers were partners in a coaching business. On 11 January 1866, Bevan's parents died when the SS London sank in a gale in the Bay of Biscay.

He was sent back to Wales after being orphaned to live with paternal relatives. He attended Hereford Cathedral School.

Rugby career Bevan played for Abergavenny Bevan played for Cambridge University R.U.F.C., was awarded two Blues for rugby (in 1877 and 1880) England 1881

Clergy career Bevan later became an Anglican clergyman. In addition, he was Vicar of St Margaret's, Herringfleet from 1906 to 1908.

Personal life He married Annie Susan Woodall in 1882. One of their sons was Kenneth Bevan, who also became a clergyman, and went on to become a missionary bishop in China. Bevan died in 1938, aged 79, at the vicarage of St Paul's, Leytonstone, where another son, Ernest, was the incumbent. He is buried in Hampstead Cemetery.