Tal Harris

Charles "Tal" Harris (4 February 1902 - 1 October 1963) was a Welsh international rugby union scrum-half who represented Wales and played club rugby for Aberavon.

Rugby career

Harris played for Aberavon during their 'golden era' which saw the team crowned Welsh Club Champions four consecutive years from the 1923/24 to the 1926/27 season. While playing for Aberavon, Harris was awarded his one and only Welsh cap against the Touring Australian Waratahs. The match took place on 26 November 1927 at the Cardiff Arms Park, and although the Welsh forwards showed strength and commitment, were out-classed by the tourist back play.

In 1931, while still with Aberavon, Harris was part of the joint Neath / Aberavon team that narrowly lost to the 1931 touring South Africans. Harris was challenged to the position by Neath's Cliff Evans, but Harris was considered more experienced and tougher. The match was a close contest, and with three minuted left on the clock the score line was 3-3 after the Welsh side had taken an early lead; but the tourist fought back and scored a try with the last move of the game. During the match, Harris and his Aberavon team mate Wilf Selby were considered the better pairing than the South African duo of Danie Craven and Bennie Osler, but the Welsh team's threequarter line was believed to have let them down with slow distribution.

International matches played

Wales

• New South Wales Waratahs 1927

• Billot (1974), pg 166.
• Billot (1974), pg 169.
• Smith (1980), pg 466.