Profile

Welshman, Tom Llewellyn was a centre threequarter who first “came North”, to play for the Leeds club from whom Oldham acquired his services for the start of the 1907-08 season. Born in the village of Whitchurch near Cardiff, he played for the local team before moving on to first Treherbert and then Cardiff.

During his brief career at Watersheddings, Tom left his mark on the history of the Northern Union. First of all by being the first captain of a Welsh team under the 13-a-side code, when leading his country to a 9 – 8 victory against the New Zealand “All Golds” on New Years Day 1908 at Aberdare. This warranted his selection for the full Great Britain team and he became the first player to score a try in a “test” rated international in the inaugural test match against those same New Zealand tourists on January 25th at Leeds.

However, it would be as a provider rather than a scorer of tries that he will be best remembered. His well timed deliveries to the wing were best demonstrated in the Championship winning campaign of 1909-10, when George Smith benefited from Llewellyn’s skills to the tune of 37 touchdowns. Tom also picked up a Lancashire Cup winners medal, scoring a try in the victory over Broughton Rangers as Oldham took the trophy for the first time in 1907.