Jack Rhys was a stockbroker from the City of London who first played for Glamorgan during 1929 after impressing Maurice Turnbull by making a superb 149 for the Free Foresters against Cambridge University.
After attending Shrewsbury School and becoming a stockbroker in Cardiff, Jack married in 1920 the daughter of Sidney Sweet-Escott, the Chairman elect of Brain’s Brewery, who had played regularly for Glamorgan during the 1890s. Opportunities duly came Jack’s way to work in the City of London so he and his family moved to south-east England, where he played for a number of cricket clubs, including the MCC.
Having put a decent Cambridge attack to the sword, Maurice persuaded the stockbroker to turn out for the Welsh county during his holidays, and Jack duly appeared in the Championship matches in 1929 against Leicestershire at Pontypridd and Surrey at the Arms Park. The following year he took a short sabbatical from the world of finance and appeared in a further five matches during May and June, besides playing for Wales against the MCC at Lord’s.
His son Bill also played for Glamorgan 2nd XI after the Second World War before working for Brain’s Brewery and serving as the company’s Chairman from 1971 until 1989.
RHYS, Hubert Ralph John
Born – Aberdare, 31st August 1897.
Died – Llandaff, 18th March 1970.
Best performance for Glamorgan:
In first-class cricket – 35 v Surrey at Swansea, 1930.
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| First-class | 7 | 13 | 1 | 147 | 12.25 | – | – | 5 | – |