{{Short description|Wales international rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Jack Wetter | image = | caption = | birth_name = John James Wetter | birth_place = Newport,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.blackandambers.co.uk/Personnel.aspx?pr=107456 |title=Newport RFC player profiles |access-date=27 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617040321/http://www.blackandambers.co.uk/Personnel.aspx?pr=107456 |archive-date=17 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Wales | death_place = Newport, Wales | height = | weight = | position = fly-half | amatyears1 = | amatyears2 = | amatyears3 = 1912-1925 | amatteam1 = Blaina RFC | amatteam2 = Pill Harriers RFC | amatteam3 = Newport RFC | amatteam4 = Monmouthshire | ru_amclubcaps = | ru_amclubpoints = | ru_amupdate = | repteam1 = {{nrut|Wales}} | repyears1 = 1914-1924<ref>[https://archive.today/20110526143738/http://www.wru.co.uk/12750_14256.php?includeref=dynamic&player=26389 WRU player profile]</ref> | repcaps1 = 10 | reppoints1 = 14 | ru_ntupdate = | coachteams1 = | coachyears1 = | ru_coachupdate = | relatives = Harry Wetter, brother | birth_date = {{Birth date|1887|12|29|df=yes}} | death_date = {{death date and age|1967|07|29|1887|12|29|df=yes}} }} '''Jack Wetter''' DCM (29 December 1887 – 29 July 1967) was a Welsh international rugby union player who played club rugby predominantly for Newport. He was captain for both his club and country and earned 10 caps for Wales. Wetter's rugby career was disrupted by the outbreak of World War I, in which he served. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal during the conflict.
==Rugby career== After playing club rugby for several lower-level teams Wetter was successful at a trial for Newport, and in 1912 he represented the team against Plymouth. Wetter stayed with the club until 1925, and in the 1922/23 season, in which Newport were unbeaten, he captained the team. He also played for two Newport teams against international opposition; the 1912 touring South Africans and the 1924 touring All Blacks.
Wetter made his debut for Wales against Scotland on 7 February 1914, in which he scored his first international try and Wales ran out winners 24–5. It was a rough game, in which, Scotland captain David Bain quoted, "The dirtier side won".<ref name="Godwin119">Godwin (1984), pg 119.</ref> Wetter would earn 10 caps in total for Wales, stretched either side of the War, and in the last three was awarded the captaincy. He scored a total of four international tries and a single conversion.
When Wetter took to the pitch for his final game for Wales in 1924, he was 36 years and one month old, the oldest Welsh player to take the position at centre. This record would stand for 77 years, until beaten by Neath's Allan Bateman.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2001/sep/19/rugbyunion.paulrees?commentpage=1 Gibbs relieved to make his final break] guardian.co.uk 19 September 2001</ref>
===International games played=== '''Wales'''<ref name="Smith473">Smith (1980), pg 473.</ref> * {{ru|ENG}} 1920, 1921 * {{ru|IRE}} 1914, 1920, 1924 * {{ru|FRA}} 1914, 1920 * {{ru|NZL}} 1924 * {{ru|SCO}} 1914, 1920
==External links== * [http://internationalcaps.webs.com/apps/photos/photo.jsp?photoID=8713087 International caps and honours] photo of some of Wetter's international caps
==Bibliography== * {{cite book |last=Parry-Jones |first=David |title=Prince Gwyn, Gwyn Nicholls and the First Golden Era of Welsh Rugby |year=1999 |publisher=seren |location=Bridgend |isbn=1-85411-262-7}} * {{cite book |last=Smith |first=David |author2=Williams, Gareth |title=Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union |year=1980 |publisher=University of Wales Press |location=Cardiff |isbn=0-7083-0766-3}} * {{cite book |last=Godwin |first=Terry |title=The International Rugby Championship 1883-1983 |year=1984 |publisher=Willow Books |location=Grafton Street, London |isbn=0-00-218060-X }}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wetter, Jack}} Category:1887 births Category:1967 deaths Category:Blaina RFC players Category:British Army personnel of World War I Category:Monmouthshire County RFC players Category:Newport RFC players Category:Rugby union players from Newport, Wales Category:Pill Harriers RFC players Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal Category:Wales international rugby union players Category:Wales rugby union captains Category:Welsh rugby union players Category:Rugby union fly-halves