Wales play first rugby international

The first Welsh rugby team met England at Blackheath on Saturday, 19 February, 1881 – the month before the Welsh Football Union was founded at the Castle Hotel, in Neath. The team was selected by Richard Mullock, of Newport and lost by 7 goals, 6 tries and 1 drop goal to nil. Australian-born James Bevan, a Cambridge blue, captained the Welsh team. Only five of the team ever played again.