Gerwyn Williams

Gerwyn Williams (22 April 1924 – 10 February 2009) was a Welsh rugby union player, coach and author.

Gerwyn Williams

Birth name	Gerwyn Williams
Date of birth	(1924-04-22)22 April 1924
Place of birth	Glyncorrwg, Wales
Date of death	10 February 2009(2009-02-10) (aged 84)
Place of death	Clare, England
School	Port Talbot Grammar
University	Loughborough College
Occupation(s)	school teacher
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) Taibach RFC Devonport Services R.F.C. Royal Navy London Welsh RFC Llanelli RFC Middlesex Hampshire London Counties Barbarian F.C. () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1950-1954 Welsh Secondary Schools Wales 13 (0) Teams coached Years Team Cambridge University Blackheath F.C. London Counties

Biography

Williams was born in Glyncorrwg, Glamorgan, the son of Ephraim and Catherin (Hopkins) Williams. He attended Port Talbot grammar school and Loughborough College after serving in the Royal Navy during World War II.[1]

Rugby career

Williams began playing rugby in grammar school, and won his first cap as a U-15 player with Wales against England. He continued at Loughborough, playing on the College XV. As a professional, Williams played fullback for Llanelli RFC and London Welsh, as well as on the Wales national rugby union team from 1950 to 1954. He won his first senior cap in the Triple Crown deciding match against Ireland in 1950. In 1952, Williams played on the Grand Slam winning team, and he was the fullback in the last Wales team to beat the New Zealand All Blacks.[1]

Post-rugby career

Williams was forced to retire from rugby due to a recurring collar-bone injury. In his post-rugby career, he became a school PE teacher in Harrow Grammar school, before moving to private education at Whitgift School in Croydon.

Williams was the author of four rugby union training manuals:[1]

• Modern Rugby (1964)
• Schoolboy Rugby (1966)
• Tackle Rugger This Way (1968)
• Tackle Rugger (1975)

He died in Clare, Suffolk.

References

1. "Gerwyn Williams: Rugby full-back who helped Wales beat the All Blacks". The Independent. 5 March 2009.