Profile

Phil joined Oldham from the Welsh Rugby Union side, Tredegar in 1902 and spent two seasons at Watersheddings before being transferred to Leeds for a then record £250 fee. He later signed for Hull Kingston Rovers.

He made a try-scoring debut in the 26 – 0 victory over Hunslet at Watersheddings on October 4th 1902 and concluded his career with the Roughyeds in a 5 – 2 home defeat to Bradford on January 23rd 1904. In total he made 44 senior appearances for Oldham, all as a centre three-quarter and scored seven tries. While at Leeds he went on to represent Wales at Rugby League and played one match for Great Britain against the New Zealand ‘All Golds’ in 1908. In this match he played at right centre with his wing partner being Oldham’s George Tyson.

Phil later settled in Lancaster but was serving with the Yorkshire Hussars Yeomanry when he was killed during the first World War on May 25th 1915, just five weeks after arriving in France.
He had just taken an injured comrade away from the fighting and was returning to the front line when he was caught by a shell burst.
He is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres and the Lancaster War Memorial.