Not many individuals are recognized just by their initials. Not many individuals performed rugby like JPR.
The legendary Wales and British and Irish Lions full-back, John Peter Rhys Williams, was a type of particular sporting stars.
Williams, who has died aged 74, was a fearless competitor and daring attacker.
He was an icon of Wales’ dominance of the Seventies, profitable three 5 Nations Grand Slams.
Immediately recognisable together with his flowing hair and sideburns, he received 55 caps between 1969 and 1981.
Williams was additionally part of the Lions’ historic profitable excursions of New Zealand in 1971 and South Africa in 1974.
Though he retired from worldwide rugby in 1981 to focus on his different profession as an orthopaedic surgeon, he saved turning out often for residence membership Bridgend into the Nineteen Nineties and even performed for native facet Tondu’s third staff in his fifties earlier than lastly hanging up his boots in 2003.
That longevity was typical of Williams’ indomitable spirit. He was a warrior on the sector and a charismatic, straight-talking character off it.
Born close to Bridgend in 1949, Williams was educated at Bridgend Boys Grammar Faculty – now Brynteg Complete Faculty – earlier than incomes a spot on the prestigious Millfield Faculty in Somerset, the place his future Wales team-mate Sir Gareth Edwards was additionally a scholar.
Williams was an achieved tennis participant in his teenagers, profitable a British junior competitors held on the venue which hosts Wimbledon, the All England Garden Tennis and Croquet Membership.
Over time, that achievement morphed right into a delusion that Williams received Junior Wimbledon in 1966, although data present the champion that 12 months was Vladimir Korotkov.
Williams turned his consideration to rugby, which had the additional advantage of being an novice sport and would due to this fact enable him to pursue a profession in medication.
Having impressed with Bridgend after which London Welsh, Williams made his Wales debut as a 19-year-old in 1969 and received the 5 Nations Championship in his first marketing campaign.
The primary of three Grand Slams adopted in 1971 and, later that 12 months, he performed all 4 Assessments because the Lions secured what remains to be their solely collection win in New Zealand.
His spectacular contribution included a long-range drop-goal within the drawn fourth Check which helped clinch the collection 2-1.
Like Edwards, Barry John and Phil Bennett, Williams was as famend for his Lions exploits as he was his achievements with Wales.
The subsequent tour, of South Africa in 1974, would change into equally etched in Lions folklore because the guests received 21 of their 22 matches, drawing one in all their 4 Assessments towards the Springboks.
It was a brutal collection marred by on-pitch violence, with match officers doing little to regulate it and the relative absence of cameras in comparison with the trendy recreation making retrospective punishment unlikely.
The Lions adopted the now notorious ’99 name’ of instantaneous retaliation the place, if one participant hit again at a Springbok, all different Lions have been anticipated to affix within the melee or hit the closest opponent.
Williams typified the gung-ho method when he ran half the size of the sector to assault the significantly larger lock, Moaner van Heerden, an act which summed up the full-back’s lack of regard for his personal security – but additionally one in all which he later stated he was not proud.
The 1976 5 Nations was a classic 12 months for Williams, who scored two glorious tries as Wales beat England at Twickenham to set the ball rolling for an additional Grand Slam.
He bookended this with a well-known shoulder-barge sort out on France wing Jean-Francois Gourdon within the closing victory in Cardiff.
A 3rd clear sweep adopted in 1978, with Williams once more ever-present as Wales stated farewell to 2 of its biggest gamers, Edwards and Bennett, and contemplated the start of the top of its golden period.
That will show to be Wales’ final Grand Slam till 2005, although Williams did assist them win one other title in 1979.
He retired from worldwide rugby in 1981 however his bloody-minded dedication remained as he performed for Bridgend. He was typically seen with blood on his face however carrying on regardless.
After retiring, Williams focused on his work as a surgeon and, in his spare time, was a member of the Bridgend Tabernacle choir.
A person who loved actual ale and classical music, Williams didn’t work as a pundit as typically as a few of his friends however, when he was requested for his opinion, he didn’t maintain again.
He notably loved reminding Wales’ more moderen crops of his document towards England – by no means on the dropping facet in 10 Assessments and with six tries to his title, a competitor to the final.