| Birth name | John James Wetter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | (1887-12-29)29 December 1887 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Newport,[1]Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 29 July 1967(1967-07-29) (aged 79) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Newport, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Harry Wetter, brother | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Jack Wetter DCM (29 December 1887 – 29 July 1967) was aWelsh internationalrugby union player who played club rugby predominantly forNewport. He was captain for both his club and country and earned 10 caps forWales.
Wetter's rugby career was disrupted by the outbreak of World War I, in which he served. He was awarded theDistinguished Conduct Medal during the conflict.
After playing club rugby for several lower-level teams Wetter was successful at a trial for Newport, and in 1912 he represented the team against Plymouth. Wetter stayed with the club until 1925, and in the 1922/23 season, in which Newport were unbeaten, he captained the team. He also played for two Newport teams against international opposition; the 1912 touringSouth Africans and the 1924 touringAll Blacks.
Wetter made his debut for Wales against Scotland on 7 February 1914, in which he scored his first international try and Wales ran out winners 24–5. It was a rough game, in which, Scotland captainDavid Bain quoted, "The dirtier side won".[3] Wetter would earn 10 caps in total for Wales, stretched either side of the War, and in the last three was awarded the captaincy. He scored a total of four international tries and a single conversion.
When Wetter took to the pitch for his final game forWales in 1924, he was 36 years and one month old, the oldest Welsh player to take the position at centre. This record would stand for 77 years, until beaten byNeath'sAllan Bateman.[4]
Wales[5]
England 1920, 1921
Ireland 1914, 1920, 1924
France 1914, 1920
New Zealand 1924
Scotland 1914, 1920