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{{short description|British Lions & Wales international rugby union footballer}}
'''Rhys Haydn Williams''' (14 July 1930 - 27 January 1993), born in [[Cwmllynfell]], was a Welsh [[rugby union]] player who gained 23 caps for [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]] as a lock.
{{EngvarB|date=June 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = R. H. Williams
| image = File:Rhys Haydn Williams in Lion's action.jpg
| caption = Williams in action for the British Lions
| birth_name = Rhys Haydn Williams
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1930|7|14}}
| birth_place = [[Cwmllynfell]], [[Neath Port Talbot]], Wales
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1993|1|27|1930|7|14}}
| death_place = [[Whitchurch, Cardiff|Whitchuch]], Wales
| height = {{convert|6|ft|3|in|m|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|16|st|10|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
| position = Lock
| amatyears1 =
| amatyears2 =
| amatyears3 =
| amatyears4 =
| amatyears5 = 1954–59
| amatteam1 = University College, Cardiff
| amatteam2 = [[Llanelli RFC]]
| amatteam3 = Royal Air Force
| amatteam4 = [[Bristol Bears|Bristol]]
| amatteam5 = [[Barbarian F.C.]]
| amatapps1 =
| amatapps2 =
| amatapps3 =
| amatapps4 =
| amatapps5 = 23
| amatpoints1 =
| ru_amupdate =
| repteam1 = [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]]
| repteam2 = [[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]]
| repyears1 = 1954–1960
| repyears2 = 1955–1959
| repcaps1 = 23
| repcaps2 = 10
| reppoints1 = 3
| reppoints2 = 0
| ru_ntupdate =
| coachteams1 =
| coachyears1 =
| ru_coachupdate =
| occupation = Education officer
| school = Ystalyfera Grammar School
| university = [[University College, Cardiff]]
}}


'''Rhys Haydn Williams''' (14 July 1930 – 27 January 1993), born in [[Cwmllynfell]], was a Welsh [[rugby union]] lock forward who gained 23 caps for [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]] and ten consecutive caps for the [[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]].<ref name="ESPN">{{cite web|title=Rhys Williams, Wales |url=http://en.espn.co.uk/statsguru/rugby/player/5783.html|access-date=2 January 2016|work= ESPN Scrum}}</ref> At club level he played primarily for [[Llanelli RFC]], captaining them for a season. He also represented the [[Barbarian F. C.|Barbarians]] becoming the most capped Welsh representative of the club. In his later life he became a sports administrator, including the role of vice-president of the [[Welsh Rugby Union]]. Rugby historian John Griffiths described Williams as "the finest line-jumper in the world" and "the most accomplished British lock of the 1950s".<ref name="Griffiths90">Griffiths (1990), p.90</ref>
Rhys Williams (height 6'3", weight 16st 10lb) was educated at [[Ystalyfera]] [[Grammar School]] and [[Cardiff University]]. He made his debut in club rugby for [[Llanelli RFC|Llanelli]] at the age of nineteen, going on to captain the club in the 1957-58 season. After graduating he joined the [[RAF]] as an Education Officer, playing in the Inter-Services tournament and for Combined Services, later becoming a research chemist and Assistant Director of Education for [[Mid Glamorgan]].


==Personal history==
⚫
== Welsh Captain, British Lion, Barbarian ==
Williams was born in the small village of [[Cwmllynfell]] in 1930.<ref name="Jenkins">Jenkins (1930), p.171</ref> He was educated at [[Ystalyfera]] Grammar School and later matriculated to [[Cardiff University|University College, Cardiff]].<ref name="Jenkins"/> After graduating he joined the [[RAF]] as an education officer.<ref name="Thomas137">Thomas (1979), p.137</ref> On leaving the forces he later becoming a research chemist for the Steel Company of Wales, and finished his professional career in educational administration as an Assistant Director of Education for [[Mid Glamorgan]].<ref name="Barbarians">{{cite web|title=Player Archive – R H Williams |url=http://www.barbarianfc.co.uk/archive/profile/4387/r-h-williams/|access-date=2 January 2016|publisher= barbarianfc.co.uk}}</ref> He died in 1993 in [[Whitchurch, Cardiff]].<ref name="ESPN"/>


⚫
== Welsh captain, British Lion, Barbarian ==
He made his debut for Wales in 1954 against [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]] and played at international level until 1960, captaining Wales against [[England national rugby union team|England]] in that year. He played for the [[British and Irish Lions]], going on the 1955 Lions tour to [[South Africa]] and the 1959 tour to Australia and New Zealand. On these tours he played in ten consecutive test matches. He also toured Canada and South Africa with the [[Barbarian F.C.|Barbarians]]. In the final test against New Zealand in 1959, he won the last six [[line-out]]s to deny New Zealand the chance to equalize.He was the only forward to be named as 'Player of the Year' in New Zealand during the 1959-1960 season.
While in the RAF, Willimas played in the Inter-Services tournament and for Combined Services. He made his debut in club rugby for [[Llanelli RFC|Llanelli]] at the age of nineteen, going on to captain the club in the 1957–58 season. He made his debut for Wales in 1954 against [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]] and played at international level until 1960, captaining Wales against [[England national rugby union team|England]] in that year. He played for the [[British and Irish Lions]], going on the [[1955 British Lions tour to South Africa]] and the [[1959 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand]]. On these tours he played in ten consecutive test matches. He also toured Canada and South Africa with the [[Barbarian F.C.|Barbarians]]. Between 1954 and 1959 Williams played 22 matches for the Barbarians, a record number of games for a Welsh player.<ref name="Barbarians"/> In the final test against New Zealand in 1959, he won six consecutive [[line-out (rugby union)|line-out]]s in a critical period of the second half to deny New Zealand the chance to equalise.<ref name="Griffiths90"/> He was the only forward to be named as 'Player of the Year' in New Zealand during the 1959–1960 season.


Andrew Bennett in his book ''Welsh Rugby Heroes'' includes R.H. Williams at No. 4 in his selection of the "all-time greatest" Welsh XV.
Andrew Bennett in his book ''Welsh Rugby Heroes'' includes R. H. Williams at No. 4 in his selection of the "all-time greatest" Welsh XV.


==References==
==Notes==
{{reflist|30em}}
⚫
*{{cite book|author= Gareth Hughes |title=One hundred years of scarlet|publisher=Llanelli Rugby Football Club|year=1983|isbn=0-9509159-0-4}}


==Bibliography==
⚫
{{lifetime|1930|1993|Williams, R. H.}}
* {{cite book |last=Griffiths |first=John|title=British Lions |year=1990 |publisher=Crowood Press |location=Swindon |isbn=1-85223-541-1}}
⚫
[[Category:Welsh rugby union footballers]]
⚫
*{{cite book|first= Gareth |last=Hughes |title=One hundred years of scarlet|publisher=Llanelli Rugby Football Club|year=1983|isbn=0-9509159-0-4}}
⚫
[[Category:Wales international rugby union footballers]]
* {{cite book |last=Jenkins |first=John M. |title=Who's Who of Welsh International Rugby Players |year=1991 |publisher=Bridge Books |location=Wrexham |isbn=1-872424-10-4|display-authors=etal}}
⚫
[[Category:British Lions rugby union footballers]]
* {{cite book |last=Thomas |first=Wayne |title=A Century of Welsh Rugby Players |year=1979 |publisher=Ansells Ltd}}

{{British and Irish Lions 1955}}
{{British and Irish Lions 1959}}

⚫
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, R. H.}}
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:1993 deaths]]
[[Category:Barbarian F.C. players]]
[[Category:Bristol Bears players]]
⚫
[[Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Wales]]
⚫
[[Category:Combined Services rugby union players]]
[[Category:Llanelli RFC players]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force officers]]
[[Category:Rugby union locks]]
[[Category:Rugby union locks]]
[[Category:People from Neath Port Talbot]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Neath Port Talbot]]
⚫
[[Category:Wales international rugby union players]]
[[Category:Wales rugby union captains]]
[[Category:Wales rugby union captains]]
[[Category:Llanelli RFC players]]
[[Category:Welsh rugby union players]]

[[cy:R.H. Williams]]
[[fr:R.H. Williams]]

Latest revision as of 01:45, 6 November 2024

R. H. Williams
Williams in action for the British Lions
Birth nameRhys Haydn Williams
Date of birth(1930-07-14)14 July 1930
Place of birthCwmllynfell, Neath Port Talbot, Wales
Date of death27 January 1993(1993-01-27) (aged 62)
Place of deathWhitchuch, Wales
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight16 st 10 lb (106 kg)
SchoolYstalyfera Grammar School
UniversityUniversity College, Cardiff
Occupation(s)Education officer
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
University College, Cardiff ()
Llanelli RFC ()
Royal Air Force ()
Bristol ()
1954–59 Barbarian F.C. 23 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1954–1960 Wales 23 (3)
1955–1959 British Lions 10 (0)

Rhys Haydn Williams (14 July 1930 – 27 January 1993), born in Cwmllynfell, was a Welsh rugby union lock forward who gained 23 caps for Wales and ten consecutive caps for the British Lions.[1] At club level he played primarily for Llanelli RFC, captaining them for a season. He also represented the Barbarians becoming the most capped Welsh representative of the club. In his later life he became a sports administrator, including the role of vice-president of the Welsh Rugby Union. Rugby historian John Griffiths described Williams as "the finest line-jumper in the world" and "the most accomplished British lock of the 1950s".[2]

Personal history

[edit]

Williams was born in the small village of Cwmllynfell in 1930.[3] He was educated at Ystalyfera Grammar School and later matriculated to University College, Cardiff.[3] After graduating he joined the RAF as an education officer.[4] On leaving the forces he later becoming a research chemist for the Steel Company of Wales, and finished his professional career in educational administration as an Assistant Director of Education for Mid Glamorgan.[5] He died in 1993 in Whitchurch, Cardiff.[1]

Welsh captain, British Lion, Barbarian

[edit]

While in the RAF, Willimas played in the Inter-Services tournament and for Combined Services. He made his debut in club rugby for Llanelli at the age of nineteen, going on to captain the club in the 1957–58 season. He made his debut for Wales in 1954 against Ireland and played at international level until 1960, captaining Wales against England in that year. He played for the British and Irish Lions, going on the 1955 British Lions tour to South Africa and the 1959 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand. On these tours he played in ten consecutive test matches. He also toured Canada and South Africa with the Barbarians. Between 1954 and 1959 Williams played 22 matches for the Barbarians, a record number of games for a Welsh player.[5] In the final test against New Zealand in 1959, he won six consecutive line-outs in a critical period of the second half to deny New Zealand the chance to equalise.[2] He was the only forward to be named as 'Player of the Year' in New Zealand during the 1959–1960 season.

Andrew Bennett in his book Welsh Rugby Heroes includes R. H. Williams at No. 4 in his selection of the "all-time greatest" Welsh XV.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Rhys Williams, Wales". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  2. ^ a b Griffiths (1990), p.90
  3. ^ a b Jenkins (1930), p.171
  4. ^ Thomas (1979), p.137
  5. ^ a b "Player Archive – R H Williams". barbarianfc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2016.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Griffiths, John (1990). British Lions. Swindon: Crowood Press. ISBN 1-85223-541-1.
  • Hughes, Gareth (1983). One hundred years of scarlet. Llanelli Rugby Football Club. ISBN 0-9509159-0-4.
  • Jenkins, John M.; et al. (1991). Who's Who of Welsh International Rugby Players. Wrexham: Bridge Books. ISBN 1-872424-10-4.
  • Thomas, Wayne (1979). A Century of Welsh Rugby Players. Ansells Ltd.
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