J. J. Williams

John James Williams MBE (born 1 April 1948), known universally as J. J. Williams, is a former Welsh rugby union player who gained thirty caps for Wales as a winger.[1]

For the Virginia lawyer and banker, see J. J. Williams Jr. For the American soccer player, see JJ Williams (soccer). For other people with the same name, see John Williams (disambiguation).
J. J. Williams
Birth nameJohn James Williams
Date of birth (1948-04-01) 1 April 1948
Place of birthNantyffyllon, Maesteg, Wales
SchoolMaesteg Grammar School
UniversityCardiff College of Education
Rugby union career
Position(s) Winger
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)

-1972
1972–		 Maesteg RFC
Bridgend
Llanelli
Barbarians		 ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1973–79
1974–77		 Wales
British Lions		 30
07		 (48)
0(20)
Correct as of 10:47, 29 April 2019 (UTC)

Born in Nantyffyllon and educated at Maesteg Grammar School, Williams was a talented track athlete, representing Wales in the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in 1970 and becoming Welsh sprint champion in 1971. He initially played for Bridgend, joining Llanelli RFC in 1972, and gaining his first international cap in 1973. He was rated as one of the fastest wingers in the game, and scored 12 tries in 30 appearances for Wales. He went on two British and Irish Lions tours, playing in all four tests in South Africa in 1974 and in three tests in New Zealand in 1977. He played a major role in the 1974 'invincible' series against South Africa, scoring two tries in each of the second and third tests and earning the title "The Welsh Whippet".

Williams now runs a commercial and industrial painting company based in Pyle, near Bridgend.[2] He also fronted a consortium which offered to take over the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.[3] All three of his children have represented Wales at Track and Field events. His son Rhys was the Welsh track record holder in the 400 metres hurdles (49.09) in 2005.[4] In 2013 he helped to promote the Wales Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme [5]

References
  1. "John Williams". ESPNScrum.com. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  2. JJ Williams – About JJ Williams Archived 2009-01-05 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Lions great leads Stadium bid". BBC SPORT. 6 October 2003. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  4. Gillingham, Martin (31 July 2005). "Rhys follows in his father's footsteps". Telegraph. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  5. "Wales Abdominal Aortic Screening Programme". NHS Wales. April 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
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