William ‘Buller’ Stadden was born 1861 in Clifton, Bristol. His family moved to Cardiff and lived at 15 Devonshire Place, Canton. Records reveal that he played in the forwards for Canton RFC, before formally joining Cardiff RFC in the 1882-83 season, but continued to play for his former team during this period. At scrum half he became integral to the success of the Cardiff team which celebrated one of its finest seasons during 1885-86. It was said that he could throw the ball across the field as accurately as a cricket ball. However his talent at half back as a 'long & sharp' passer from the scrum was recognized by opponents Dewsbury RFC during their 1886 tour of Wales. This led to an invite to move to Yorkshire with the offer of employment later in 1886.

During his rugby ‘career’, Buller played for Wales on 8 occasions, 7 tests in the Four Nations Championship and 1 friendly international against the New Zealand Maoris (first overseas tourists) in 1888. On 12th April 1884, Buller made his home debut for Wales against Ireland and scored a drop goal, the first scored by a Welshman and two years later, 2nd January 1886, at the Rectory Field, Blackheath, Buller scored his first try in a defeat against England. This was a match where Wales had taken the lead when Buller took the ball from the line-out & ran over half the length of the field to score a try, converted by Taylor.

Perhaps his greatest sporting achievement came on the 15th February 1890, when Buller scored the only try & point in Wales’ first ever win following six previous attempts, by 1pt to nil against England, played coincidently at Crown Flatt, Dewsbury. The game was played during a sleeting snow-storm on a quagmire of a pitch in which the Welsh four three-quarters impressed with some fine handling, considering the conditions. Two minutes into the 2nd half, Buller motioned to throw the ball long from a line-out but noticing his inattentive opponent, J. Wright of Bradford, instead bounced the ball in short at the lineout to regather and evade two defending players and make a short run to touchdown over the try line. A news report of the day quotes: “The Welsh try was cleverly gained by Stadden, who tricked the opposing half by bouncing the ball out of touch.” However, it was not until 1906 that this tactic was banned by the IRB. This was Buller’s last appearance for Wales and in the 1891-92 season the value of a try was changed to 2 pts.

Evening Express columnist Percy Bush under heading 'Recollections' (15/01/1910) wrote: "These heroes (1889-90 Welsh team) travelled to Dewsbury strong in intent, but, withal, without much hope, and it seemed for the first half-hour or so that the same old state of affairs was going to obtain. But England could not score, try as they would, and the Welshmen began to dare to hope that there might be just a bare chance of getting let down lightly. And then, all of a sudden, Buller Stadden whose name will never die, did the 'dapping-out-of-touch' act, and before England had grasped the situation Stadden had grounded the ball over their line. Wales were so bucked-up by this colossal audacity that she actually pressed hotly on several other occasions during the game and defended so gamely that at the end of the game Buller's try was worth 100 points, as far as Wales' position was concerned, for she had her first victory over the vigorous Saxon. What jubilation reigned that night! Poor old Stadden! His was a sad end, but his name will never be forgotten. There was not a heap of him, but still, he was very strong, and extra good both in attack and defence. The bigger the game the better Stadden used to play."

Buller's 'move north' may be considered one of the first by a major rugby star player, albeit not to the newly formed Northern RFU league, founded in 1895, but union playing Dewsbury RFC who were finally elected to join the NRFU league in 1898. Buller's last match playing rugby for Dewsbury RLFC came in 1902 when he was called upon as a last minute replacement (at the age of 40).

Dewsbury RLFC committeeman Stadden settled down with wife & five children to run a billiard hall & grocery business on Wakefield Road but sadly, some years later in 1906, Buller Stadden and wife died under tragic family circumstances aged 45. He is buried in an unmarked grave in a Dewsbury cemetery.

(Ref.'The gory life and grisly death of Welsh rugby's first great star' & 'Buller - Hero of 1890 try'). Further reading ref. ‘This Rugby Spellbound People: Rugby Football in Nineteenth-Century Cardiff and South Wales,’ by Gwyn Prescott – Publisher Welsh Academic Press, 2011