page_title: Billy Bancroft
hierarchical_section_title: Billy Bancroft
caption_attribution_description: English: Billy Bancroft Wales international rugby union player, Swansea Club and Glamorgan cricketer
context_page_description: William John Bancroft was a Welsh international fullback, who played club rugby for Swansea, and a county cricketer for Glamorgan, for whom he was the first professional player in 1895.
  Bancroft was seen as one of the first true stars of Welsh rugby and played rugby with extreme self-confidence. He possessed great speed and was an excellent kicker of the ball, though some critics felt his defensive play was weak. His brother Jack also played rugby for Wales.
context_section_description: William John Bancroft (2 March 1871 – 3 March 1959) was a Welsh international fullback, who played club rugby for Swansea, and a county cricketer for Glamorgan, for whom he was the first professional player in 1895.
  Bancroft was seen as one of the first true stars of Welsh rugby and played rugby with extreme self-confidence. He possessed great speed and was an excellent kicker of the ball, though some critics felt his defensive play was weak. His brother Jack also played rugby for Wales.
caption: Bancroft in his Wales rugby jersey
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