# Rhys Gabe > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rhys_Gabe > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rhys_Gabe.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhys_Gabe > Source revision: 1256265479 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|British Lions & Wales international rugby union footballer}} {{EngvarB|date=August 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Rhys Gabe | image = Rhys Gabe.jpg | caption = Gabe in his Newport jersey | birth_name = Rees Thomas Gape | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1880|6|22}} | birth_place = [Llangennech](/source/Llangennech), Wales | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1967|9|15|1880|6|22}} | death_place = [Cardiff](/source/Cardiff), Wales | height = 5 ft 9 in | weight = 12 st 8 lb | position = [Centre](/source/Centre_(rugby_union)) | amatyears1 = ?-1898 | amatyears2 = 1898–1901 | amatyears3 = 1901–1904 | amatyears4 = 1904–1908 | amatteam1 = [Llangennech RFC](/source/Llangennech_RFC) | amatteam2 = [Llanelli RFC](/source/Llanelli_RFC) | amatteam3 = [London Welsh RFC](/source/London_Welsh_RFC) | amatteam4 = [Cardiff RFC](/source/Cardiff_RFC) | amatteam5 = [Glamorgan](/source/Glamorgan_County_RFC) | amatteam6 = Middlesex | amatapps1 = | amatapps2 = | amatapps3 = 115{{Cite web|url=https://biography.wales/article/s2-GABE-THO-1880|title=GABE, RHYS THOMAS (REES THOMAS GAPE; 1880 - 1967), rugby player | Dictionary of Welsh Biography|website=biography.wales}} | amatpoints1 = | ru_amupdate = | repteam1 = [Wales](/source/Wales_national_rugby_union_team) | repteam2 = [Great Britain](/source/British_and_Irish_Lions) | repyears1 = 1901–1908 | repyears2 = 1904 | repcaps1 = 24 | repcaps2 = 4 | reppoints1 = 33 | reppoints2 = 3 | ru_ntupdate = | coachteams1 = | coachyears1 = | ru_coachupdate = | occupation = teacher | school = Llanelli Intermediate School | university = [Borough Road College](/source/Borough_Road) }} '''Rhys Thomas "Rusty" Gabe''' (22 June 1880 – 15 September 1967)[http://www.espnscrum.com/wales/rugby/player/1485.html Rusty Gabe player profile] Scrum.com born as '''Rees Thomas Gape''',Jenkins (1991), pg 60. was a Welsh [rugby union](/source/rugby_union) player who played club rugby for [Llanelli](/source/Llanelli_RFC), [London Welsh](/source/London_Welsh_RFC) and [Cardiff](/source/Cardiff_RFC) and gained 24 caps for [Wales](/source/Wales_national_rugby_union_team),{{Cite web|url=http://www.wru.co.uk/12750_14256.php?player=25973&includeref=dynamic|title=WRU player profile}} mainly as a centre. ==Rugby career== Born in [Llangennech](/source/Llangennech), Gabe started his rugby career with [Llangennech](/source/Llangennech_RFC) before making his debut with Llanelli at the age of seventeen. In 1901 he moved to London to study at Borough Road Training College and joined [London Welsh](/source/London_Welsh_RFC), where he was moved to centre. After qualifying as a mathematics teacher, he took a teaching post in Cardiff and joined the [Cardiff](/source/Cardiff_RFC) club, where he formed a devastating centre combination with [Gwyn Nicholls](/source/Gwyn_Nicholls) for both club and country. He played for Cardiff between 1902–03 and 1909–10, captaining the club in the 1907–08 season. He scored 51 tries for Cardiff in 115 appearances.'Cardiff Rugby Club History and Statistics 1876–1975' (1975) D.E. Davies {{ISBN|0-9504421-0-0}} Gabe won his first cap for Wales against [Ireland](/source/Ireland_national_rugby_union_team) in 1901, playing on the left wing. His 24 caps for Wales included the famous ''[Match of the Century](/source/Match_of_the_Century_(rugby_union))'', the 1905 victory against [New Zealand](/source/All_Blacks). Gabe would go on to captain Wales in the 1907 match against Ireland, and toured [Australasia](/source/1904_British_Lions_tour_to_Australia_and_New_Zealand) with the [British Isles](/source/British_and_Irish_Lions) team of 1904. He played in all four test matches, including the three victories over Australia.'Cardiff Sporting Greats' (2007) Andrew Hignell and Gwyn Prescott pp 194–195 {{ISBN|978-0-7524-4286-0}} thumb|left|1905 Wales squad, Gabe, back row, second from right Gabe was an impressive try scorer and scored 11 tries during his Welsh career. In his first game against England in 1902 he scored a memorable try when [John Strand-Jones](/source/John_Strand-Jones) deceived the entire English pack and passed the ball to Gabe. With only the English full back Gamlin to beat, Gabe raced to the try line and rounded Gamlin but took a heavy blow to his solar plexus. Gabe managed to carry on, cross the line, score the try, only then passing out.Davies (1980), pg 143. His most remarkable try was probably one scored against [England](/source/England_national_rugby_union_team) at [Bristol](/source/Bristol) in 1908. The match was played in thick fog, and Gabe and his teammate [Percy Bush](/source/Percy_Bush) found a loose ball outside England's 25. Gabe won the tussle for the ball and set off in the direction of the line, while Bush ran off in the opposite direction to confuse the opposition. Eventually the referee and the other players arrived at the line to find Gabe waiting with the ball.Davies (1980), pg 193. Gabe retired in 1908, but still appeared occasionally for Cardiff. He was a fine club cricketer and played occasionally for Glamorgan. He also captained Radyr Golf Club, and played at Cardiff Golf Club well into his eighties. He died in Cardiff in 1967. {{clear left}} ===International games played=== '''Wales'''Smith (1980), pg 466. * {{ru|ENG}} 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908 * {{ru|FRA}} 1908 * {{ru|IRE}} 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908 * {{ru|NZL}} 1905 * {{ru|SCO}} 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1907, 1908 * {{ru|RSA}} [1906](/source/1906_South_Africa_rugby_union_tour) '''British Isles''' * {{ru|AUS}} 1904, 1904, 1904 * {{ru|NZL}} 1904 ==Bibliography== * {{cite book |last=Jenkins |first=John M. |title=Who's Who of Welsh International Rugby Players |year=1991 |publisher=Bridge Books |location=Wrexham |isbn=1-872424-10-4|display-authors=etal}} * {{cite book |last=Thomas |first=Wayne |title=A Century of Welsh Rugby Players |year=1979 |publisher=Ansells Ltd}} * {{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}} ==Further reading== Gareth Hughes (1983) ''One hundred years of scarlet'' (Llanelli Rugby Football Club) {{ISBN|0-9509159-0-4}} ==References== {{reflist}} {{s-start}} {{s-sports|ruc}} {{succession box|title=[Cardiff RFC Captain](/source/Cardiff_RFC)|before= [Percy Bush](/source/Percy_Bush)|after=[Percy Bush](/source/Percy_Bush)||years=1907–1908}} {{s-end}} {{British and Irish Lions 1904}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Gabe, Rhys}} Category:1880 births Category:1967 deaths Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Wales Category:Cardiff RFC players Category:Glamorgan County RFC players Category:Llanelli RFC players Category:Llangennech RFC players Category:London Welsh RFC players Category:Rugby union centres Category:Rugby union players from Carmarthenshire Category:Wales international rugby union players Category:Wales rugby union captains Category:Welsh rugby union players --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rhys Gabe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhys_Gabe) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhys_Gabe?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.