William Cope made his sole appearance for Glamorgan in their scratch XI for the two-day friendly against a Cardiff and District XI at the Arms Park in August 1893.

The son of Matthew Cope, a colliery and quarry owner from St. Mellons, he learnt his cricket and rugby at Repton and Clare College, Cambridge where he read Law, besides winning a football Blue, but bizarrely not a rugby Blue! The young barrister then returned to South Wales where he played cricket for Cardiff and Fairwater, besides winning a place in the Cardiff 1st XV. Some sturdy performances as a forward for Cardiff and Blackheath led to his selection in the Welsh side for the Home Nations Championship game against Scotland in 1896. Although Wales won the game, it proved to be his sole cap.

By this time, he had been called to the Bar and practiced in London, before returning to South Wales and entering local politics, besides serving as a Director of the Albion Colliery and an electric power station. After serving as a Major in the Glamorgan Yeomanry during World War One, he became Conservative MP for Llandaff and Barry between 1918 and 1929, during which time he was also Comptroller of the Royal Household, and a Junior Lord of the Treasury.

He was made a Baronet in 1928 and was subsequently elevated to the peerage in 1946. In his youth, he had been a keen huntsman and rode his horses in local point-to-points.

COPE, Sir William (later Lord Cope of St. Mellons).
Born – Roath, Cardiff , 18 August 1870.
Died – St. Mellons, 15 July 1946.

Batting and Fielding Record  

	M	I	NO	RUNS	AV	100	50	CT	ST
MC Friendly	1	2	0	18	9.00	–	–	–	–

  Bowling Record  

	Balls	M	R	W	AV	5wI	10wM
MC Friendly	30	1	13	1	13.00	–	–

Career-best performances  

Minor County friendly – 16 and 1/13 v Cardiff and District XI at Cardiff Arms Park, 1893.