Arthur Boucher

Arthur Boucher

Boucher in Wales jersey
Birth name	Arthur William Boucher
Date of birth	(1870-06-29)29 June 1870
Place of birth	Gobowen, Shropshire, England
Date of death	25 April 1948(1948-04-25) (aged 77)
Place of death	Dinas Powis, Wales
Height	5 ft 11.5 in (1.816 m)
Weight	12 st 9 lb (80 kg)
School	Clytha School, Newport
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1889–1899 1892–1893 Newport RFC Barbarian F.C. () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1882–1897 Wales 13 (3)

Arthur Boucher (29 June 1870 – 25 April 1948) was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Newport. Boucher was an adaptable player, who although selected mainly as a forward, often played at centre. He was strong, quick for his position and passed well on the run. He was often noted for his kicking skills and kicked several drop goals each season even as a forward. Boucher was one of the last great all-round Welsh players before positional specialisation was adopted. Boucher played for the invitational Barbarians and became their club secretary between 1894 and 1899. He is the maternal grandfather of Dick King-Smith.

Rugby career

Born in Gobowen in England, Boucher moved to Wales while still young. He joined Newport during the 1889/90 season and in the following decade he captained them over three seasons. Boucher was part of Newport's invincible 1891/92 season alongside the legendary Arthur Gould, though Boucher actually played more games.

Boucher was first selected to play for Wales on 2 January 1892 against England. He was brought in with fellow Newport forward Wallace Watts, and the two were selected to play in the same squad on ten occasions. The Welsh team were beaten soundly by England, and failed to win any of the games in that season's Championship. The next season Boucher played his role in winning Wales's very first Triple Crown, and by 1897 he had collected 13 caps, missing two games in between only due to injuries. In his final game for Wales against England, Boucher scored his first and only try for his country, and due to the Gould Affair Wales played no further games that season.

International matches played

Wales

• England 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897
• Ireland 1892, 1893, 1895, 1896
• Scotland 1892, 1893, 1895

Bibliography

• Alcock, C.W.; Hill, Rowland (1997). Famous Rugby Footballers 1895. Horefield: Yore Publications. ISBN 1-874427-42-9.
• 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.
• Thomas, Wayne (1979). A Century of Welsh Rugby Players. Ansells Ltd.