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Mel Reuben, Headingley Rugby Voices: Lewis Jones

There was enormous interest and excitement when Lewis Jones came up from Wales and made his debut at Headingley against Keighley.

I saw that match and I was at Mount Pleasant, Batley a few weeks later when John Etty broke his arm.

I can still see it vividly - he picked up Lewis in a big bearhug and slammed him down on the ground. We knew it was serious when he didn’t get up and Dai Prosser began demonstrating his annoyance.

We all stood there, Batley fans as well, shaking our heads thinking we’ve spent all this money - £6,000 was a hell of a lot in those days - for a great player who we’d heard so much about and before we’d really seen what he could do he was badly injured.

Mel Reuben

Comment added by Ron Needham: I only realised what the signing of Lewis Jones had meant to Welsh rugby union when I had to visit a south Wales college for a research project I was working on, in 1983, some 25 years or more after he came north. The college vice principal asked me where I was based and, when I said Leeds, said (in a very Welsh accent) "Leeds, I'll never forgive those buggers for taking Lewis Jones." – RON NEEDHAM, FEBRUARY 6 2014

Originally published in 'Headingley Rugby Voices' Recollections of supporters, compiled by Phil Caplan.

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Memory added on November 26, 2012

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