Ernie Coleman (rugby union)

Ernie Coleman
Full nameErnest Owain Coleman
Date of birth(1917-11-03)3 November 1917
Place of birthNewport, Wales
Date of death24 October 1999(1999-10-24) (aged 81)
Place of deathNewport, Wales
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight13.8 st (193 lb; 88 kg)
SchoolMaindee School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1949 Wales 3 (0)

Ernest Owain Coleman (3 November 1917 – 24 October 1999) was a Welsh international rugby union player.

A native of Newport, Coleman was educated at Maindee School and made up way up from the Newport RFC juniors to make his senior debut aged 18 in 1936. His career was soon interrupted by World War II, during which he served in the British Army with many of his teammates.[1] He continued to play rugby in this period, for Southern Command, Welsh Services and also in a representative match for the Army against Ireland.[2]

Coleman, a tireless forward, had to wait until the age of 31 to gain a Wales cap. He was capped three times in the 1949 Five Nations, debuting in a win over England, but was thereafter overlooked.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Newport's Last Pre-War Players". The Football Argus. 4 September 1948.
  2. ^ "The Return Of Ernie Coleman". The Football Argus. 18 October 1947.
  3. ^ "Spector's Rugby Topics". The Football Argus. 12 March 1949. p. 2.