Selwyn Biggs

Selwyn Hanam Biggs (June 1872 – 12 January 1943) was a Welsh international rugby union fly-half who played club rugby for Cardiff and county rugby for Glamorgan. Both Biggs and his brother Norman played international rugby for Wales, though they never played in the same match for Wales together. Biggs was described at the time as a 'certain tackler' and a 'fast, good dodger'. Biggs also played cricket for Glamorgan and was part of the team to face the touring South Africans in 1895.

Rugby career Biggs followed his brother Norman when he joined Cardiff Rugby Club, the team he would represent throughout his international career. He joined Cardiff during the 1889/90 season and the next year he was made captain of the club's reserve team. In 1894 he was selected to play for the invitational touring side Barbarian F.C., facing Rockcliff on 2 April. He was first selected to represent Wales in the opening game of the 1895 Home Nations Championship, the very next international after his brother represented Wales for the final time. Biggs was partnered in the half-back role with Llanelli's Ben Davies, himself a new cap; and the first of six partners he would be paired with over his nine match career. His first international was against England in a game played at St. Helens in Swansea. Under the captaincy of Wales rugby superstar Arthur 'Monkey' Gould, Wales lost 3–7, with the English forwards outplaying their Welsh counterparts in the loose. The selectors kept faith with Biggs for the next game of the Championship, away to Scotland, but switched Davies for the more experienced Fred Parfitt. Wales lost this game too, again the forwards could not contend with the opposing side and Biggs and Parfitt were replaced by Morgan of Llanelli and Sweet-Escott of Cardiff in the final game of the tournament.

The 1896 Championship witnessed a change in direction for the Welsh team, with a massive upheaval in the team selection. The selectors chose a new pairing at half-back for the first game against England, but the blame again fell on the forwards, with the English winning by a massive 25 points to nil. Biggs and Parfitt were brought back into the squad for the second game, but more importantly five new caps made their debut in the pack. The Scottish lost 6–0 against Wales at Cardiff, which was seen as an upset by the inexperienced Welsh. Biggs missed the final game against Ireland and his replacement, Llewellyn Lloyd, had a torrid time trying to defend the Irish attacks. Biggs finished 1896 by being invited to play in his second Barbarian match, this time against a select West of England team. Cardiff won both matches with Viv Huzzey scoring two tries, four conversions and a dropped goal in the second game. 1898 also saw Biggs play his final game for the Barbarians, facing Exeter on 27 December.

International matches played Wales 1895, 1897, 1898 1898, 1899, 1900 1895, 1896, 1899

Cricket career Biggs played for several Welsh cricket clubs, mainly for Glamorgan but turned out for Cardiff and South Wales. He was a medium pace bowler, turning out for Glamorgan in the Minor Counties Cricket Championship between 1896 and 1899.

On 22 June 1894, Biggs was part of the Glamorgan team to face the touring South African cricket team at the Cardiff Arms Park. Biggs played alongside fellow rugby internationals Billy Bancroft and Ralph Sweet-Escott. Glamorgan lost by ten wickets, with Biggs taking two wickets, including Frank Hearne, for 76 runs in 24 overs.