Jehoida Hodges

Hodges in Newport jersey
Birth name	Joseph Jehoida Hodges
Date of birth	(1876-07-15)15 July 1876
Place of birth	Risca,[1]Monmouthshire,Wales
Date of death	13 September 1930(1930-09-13) (aged 54)
Place of death	Waunlwyd,Wales
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Weight	13 st 0 lb (83 kg)
Occupation(s)	miner publican
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) London Welsh () 1897/1909 Newport RFC[3] 252 (90) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1899-1906 Wales 23 (18)

Joseph Jehoida Hodges^[4] (15 July 1876 – 13 September 1930) was aWelsh internationalrugby union player.^[3] He was a member of the winning Welsh team who beat the 1905 touringAll Blacks in the famousMatch of the Century. He played club rugby forLondon Welsh andNewport RFC.

Hodges, along with fellow Welsh internationalsGeorge Boots, and laterGeorge Travers is recognised with adopting forward formation play in scrums and line outs. Although forwards were responsible for these areas of play, there was little defined tactics or specialisation before the early 20th century. Hodges helped bring tactical formations and therefore a level of specialisation to forward play.^[2] He was described as a hard working and an excellent all-round player who could fill in at most positions,^[5] even on the wing.^[6]

Hodges made his debut forWales against England in 1899, after only his second season playing for Newport. Hodges played in threeTriple Crown winning campaigns, provided forward resistance^[7] against the famous1905 All Black 'loose head' and was part of Wales' first away win to Scotland. The later included a full on fist fight between the packs.^[2]

One of Hodges most impressive moments in a Welsh shirt was in the 1903 match against England. Welsh wingerTom Pearson had taken a heavy blow to the ribs by England's notoriously heavy tackler^[8] Gamlin, and was forced to retire. Hodges showed his famous adaptability when moved to the wing to cover Pearson's position and scored three tries in a 21-5 victory for the Welsh.^[8]

Wales^[9]

• England 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906
• Ireland 1899, 1900, 1902, 1903, 1905, 1906
• New Zealand 1905
• Scotland 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906

After leaving club rugby Hodges became a publican, first at the Salvation Hotel in Newport and then at the Park Hotel, Waunlwyd. Hodges died on 13 September 1930; his body was returned to his birth town of Risca where he was buried on 17 September at Cromwell Road cemetery. His coffin was borne by former Welsh internationals.

• Parry-Jones, David (1999).Prince Gwyn, Gwyn Nicholls and the First Golden Era of Welsh Rugby. Bridgend: seren.ISBN 1-85411-262-7.
• Thomas, Wayne (1979).A Century of Welsh Rugby Players. Ansells.
• Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980).Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press.ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.

• 1876 births
• 1930 deaths
• British publicans
• London Welsh RFC players
• Newport RFC players
• Rugby union forwards
• Rugby union players from Risca
• Wales international rugby union players
• Welsh miners
• Welsh rugby union players

• Webarchive template wayback links
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata