Career
Birch was selected for Wales in a tit for tat reprisal by the Welsh Rugby Union after the Rugby Football Union selected Welshman Stanley Williams for England. Birch first came to note as a rugby player when he turned out for Northampton at the age of sixteen. He moved to Wales where he joined Neath.
He was selected by the Welsh Rugby Union to play for the Wales national team during the 1911 Five Nations Championship, playing in two games, against France and Scotland.
This was an excellent campaign for Wales and Birch found himself part of a Triple Crown and Grand Slam winning team As well as representing Neath, Birch also played for Glamorgan Police Reconstruction Finance Corporation, after joining the Glamorgan Constabulary in April 1910.
In 1912 he switched clubs to first-class side Cardiff and spent three seasons with the club from 1912-1913 to 1919-1920. He made 175 appearances for Cardiff.
On his retirement he returned to Northampton where he served on the Northampton Reconstruction Finance Corporation committee.
International matches played
Wales
France 1911
Scotland 1911.
