Dai Parker
| Full name | David Stewart Parker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 8 August 1904 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Llansamlet, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 16 June 1965 (aged 60) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Swansea, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Tom Parker, brother | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | Stewart Parker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position(s) | Forward | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Amateur team(s) | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| ? 1923-? |
Llansamlet RFC Swansea RFC |
() | |
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 1924-1930 1930 |
Wales British Lions |
10 5 |
(11) (3) |
David 'Dai' Parker (8 August 1904–16 June 1965) was a Welsh international rugby union prop who played club rugby for Swansea. He won ten caps for Wales and was selected to play in the 1930 British Lions tour of New Zealand and Australia.
Parker first played for Swansea in 1923, and in 1924 he was part of the Swansea team that played the 1924 touring New Zealand team. Swansea lost heavily, but when Parker scored with a penalty kick he was the first person to score against the tourists, even though the game was the fifth of the series.
Parker was Swansea's lead scorer over five consecutive seasons between 1925/26 and 1929/30. He was also chosen to captain Swansea in the 1927/28 season.
Parker was first chosen to represent Wales in a match against Ireland as part of the 1924 Five Nations Championship. The Welsh team saw ten changes from the prior game against Scotland, which Wales had lost 10-35 and Parker was one of six new caps, five of them in the pack. Played in front of the Prince of Wales at the Cardiff Arms Park, Wales lost narrowly. The selectors kept faith in Parker and he was chosen to play in the next game, away to France. Wales were victorious, halting a losing streak of four matches, thanks to a drop goal from Vincent Griffiths.
Parker was next selected for Wales to face the same touring New Zealand team he had lost to playing for Swansea in 1924. Under the captaincy of Jack Wetter, Wales were outclassed by the All Black's speed and combination play. Parker worked tirelessly in the pack along with Steve Morris and Charlie Pugh, but were let down by uninspiring back play. Teddy Morgan, writing in the Western Mail, commented that "The Welsh side hardly deserved a score, though the forwards surpassed themselves."
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