Fred Harding

The previous year, the talented young sportsman may have also appeared for the South Wales Cricket Club in their match against the Gentlemen of Sussex at Hove. What is known is that he was named in the starting eleven when the two-day match began but later in the day, when the Welsh gentlemen batted, he was listed as being absent. A substitute player was drafted in for their second innings suggesting that the 21 year-old had been called away the previous day rather than being injured whilst fielding.

Fred captained the Twenty-Two of Newport CC in their match against the All-England Eleven at Rodney Parade in 1881. Batting at number five, Fred scored 3 ad 0. He was also a regular in the Monmouthshire team between 1886 and 1900, with the middle-order batter and seam bowler enjoying success in the Minor County’s matches.

In 1890 he scored 90 against Herefordshire at Rodney Parade before posting 111 against Herefordshire at Hereford later in the season. 1890 also saw Fred claim a five-wicket haul against Glamorgan at Newport, before completing another five-wicket haul the following year against Devon at Rodney Parade, besides scoring 91 against the West Countryside. Fred’s last major game of cricket came in 1900 when he played for Monmouthshire against Gloucestershire 2nd XI at Newport, scoring 29 and 3 as the Welsh team narrowly won by one wicket.

In addition to his appearance in Wales’ first rugby international, Fred also played in three further matches, whilst his younger brother Theo also played rugby for Newport and won three Welsh caps as a forward. Fred initially worked as a clerk in an engineering company before becoming an iron and steel merchant. His successful business career saw Fred saw him subsequently become a Director of Lloyds and Yorath, based at the Cambrian Brewery in Newport with the company being acquired by Ansell’s of Birmingham during 1951.

HARDING, George Frederick
Born – Chorlton-cum-Hardy, 14 August 1858.
Died – Llantarnam, 8 July 1927.