William Freeguard

William Freeguard was the son of a stockbroker who went on to become one of the best water polo players ever produced by Newport. Educated at Monmouth Grammar school, Freeguard played rugby and later joined Newport RUFC. He played mostly in their second XV, but during their unbeaten season in 1922/23 he played one game for the first team.

Freeguard was captain of the Newport swimming club and was at one-time the club’s 100 yards champion. He was part of yet another invincible team in 1932/33 when the water polo club went through the season unbeaten. Freeguard was a regular on the Welsh international team since making his début against Ireland as a 19-year-old in 1923. He was selected for the Great Britain water polo squad at the 1928 Olympics but was a non-starter.

Freeguard went on to play an important role in the development of water polo in Wales and became manager/coach of the national team. A keen motor cycle racer, Freeguard won the 100 miles Welsh Time Trial at Pendine Sands. His brothers Stanley and John were also fine swimmers and water polo players, and were members of the Newport club. Before World War II, William and John ran the Freeguard Brothers transport business. William joined the Royal Army Service Corps in June 1940 and served in Kenya. After his demobilisation there, he made the country his new home. Sadly only a few years later he died at the age of 45.