# Phil Hopkins

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**Phil Hopkins** (31 January 1880 – 26 September 1966)[1] was a [Welsh](/source/Wales) international [rugby union](/source/Rugby_union) wing who played club rugby for [Swansea Rugby Football Club](/source/Swansea_RFC). He won just four caps for [Wales](/source/Wales_national_rugby_union_team) but made an important impact to the team's 1909 [Triple Crown](/source/Triple_Crown_(rugby_union)) winning championship.

## Rugby career

Hopkins first played rugby at schoolboy level for Pontardawe Collegiate School, and after he matriculated to [University College of North Wales](/source/University_College_of_North_Wales) in Bangor, he also played for the college team. An all round sportsman, he played several sports to a high standard, including soccer, tennis and hockey. He rowed for University College at Henley and was a reserve for both Wales hockey XI and the amateur soccer XI.

At club level, Hopkins first played rugby for local side [Pontardawe RFC](/source/Pontardawe_RFC) before he switched to first class Welsh club Swansea. In 1908 Hopkins came to note when he faced the [first touring Australian](/source/1908%E2%80%9309_Australia_rugby_union_tour_of_Britain) team on three occasions, at club, county and international level. His first meeting with the Australians was when he was selected for invitational county team [Glamorgan](/source/Glamorgan_County_RFC).[2] The match, played at Pontypridd, saw the tourists win 16–3. Two months later, Hopkins was selected for his first international appearance when he was selected for Wales to face [Australia](/source/Australia_national_rugby_union_team). Hopkins had a notable game scoring one of two Wales' [tries](/source/Try_(rugby)), in a narrow victory. Then on 26 December 1908, Hopkins faced Australia for a final time when he played in a historic win over the tourists.

Hopkins next played for Wales in the [1909 Home Nations Championship](/source/1909_Home_Nations_Championship), and played in two of the matches, against England and Ireland. Hopkins scored a try in both games and with Wales beating all three opponents in the tournament, he became part of a Triple Crown winning Championship. Hopkins played in just one more match for Wales, his first losing match as an international in an away game to England as part of the [1910 Five Nations Championship](/source/1910_Five_Nations_Championship).

### International matches played

**Wales**

- [Australia](/source/Australia) 1908
- [England](/source/England) 1909, 1910
- [IRE](/source/IRE) 1909

## 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.

## References

1. [Philip Hopkins rugby profile](http://www.espnscrum.com/wales/rugby/player/1991.html) Scum.com

1. [Glamorgan v Australia teams](http://www.swansearfc.co.uk/cms/gallery/1428_large.jpg)[dead link] SwanseaRFC.co.uk

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