Gordon joined Swansea in 1894, and spent several seasons playing for the "all whites" before succeeding Billy Bancroft as the captain of the first XV.
[1] The selectors acted angrily, and recalled semi-retired Wales captain Gwyn Nicholls to take the vacant position, rather than be dictated in their actions by the Swansea club.
Despite Wales winning the match, Nicholls was treated poorly by the crowd who reportedly threw oranges and mud at him during the team photo.
Gordon was a player worthy of a cap and I for some time refused to accept the invitation to play.
But on being told definitely that they [the WRU] would not tolerate a man standing down for another, and even if I persisted in my refusal they would not play Gordon.