Player

Charlie Arthur - Centre

Cardiff
Back
Charlie Arthur
Place Of BirthKing's Lynn
EducationQueen Elizabeth Grammar School, Carmarthen
ClubsCardiff, Carmarthen Quins, Bristol Bears
HonoursWales
Norfolk born Charles Suckling "Charlie" Arthur played 163 times for Cardiff between 1883 and 1891. Although born in England Charlie Arthur played international rugby for Wales and won his first international cap in the second of the 1888 Home Nations championship against Ireland at Lansdowne Road.
In December 1888 he was chosen for the Wales team to face the New Zealand Maoris (the first touring team from the Southern Hemisphere) at St Helens, Swansea. The crowd thought the Swansea backs had been overlooked and booed the Welsh players from other clubs. A week later Arthur was part of the Cardiff team to face the same Maoris team and, captained by Frank Hill, the Blue and Blacks were victorious. His last international was in 1891 against England which was lost 3 -7. Although he would never play for Wales again he was still a major part of his club side and was made Cardiff captain.
Charles Arthur was also an early enthusiast in rugby history, compiling one of the first rugby union books - ’Cardiff Rugby Football Club, History and Statistics 1876 –1906’ – a copy of which is in the club archives.
SEASON P W D L TRY CON PEN DG PTS
TOTAL 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
TEAM P W D L PF PA PTS
Newport 24 21 0 3 845 446 104
Llandovery 22 20 0 2 717 355 95
Ebbw Vale 24 18 0 6 724 443 89
Cardiff 24 15 1 8 731 536 78
Pontypridd 24 12 1 11 544 572 63
Pontypool 22 13 0 9 559 501 62
Merthyr 21 11 0 10 535 569 56
Aberavon 23 8 0 15 507 652 47
Bridgend Ravens 22 8 0 14 463 667 42
Swansea 21 6 0 15 427 589 36
Carmarthen Quins 22 5 0 17 469 666 33
RGC 1404 21 5 0 16 424 579 30
Neath 22 3 0 19 379 749 20