Haydn Tanner
Birth name | Haydn Tanner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 9 January 1917 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Penclawdd, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of death | 5 June 2009 | (aged 92)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Gowerton Grammar School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | University College, Swansea | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Haydn Tanner (9 January 1917 – 5 June 2009).
Personal history
Tanner was educated at
In December the same year Tanner won his first cap for Wales at the age of 18 years and 11 months, making him one of the youngest players to appear for Wales. The match was again against the All Blacks and Tanner was again on the winning side. He went on to win 25 international caps, 12 as captain, despite his career being interrupted by the Second World War.
Tanner toured South Africa with the British and Irish Lions in 1938 and played in only one test owing to injury. In 1948 he was captain of the Barbarians against Australia. His last international match was against France in 1949.
He was undoubtedly one of the greatest scrum-halves to ever play the game and, according to the 1950 Lion, Bleddyn Williams, he was ‘the greatest’: "Among all the scrum-halves I’ve seen and played with, he would reign supreme," said Williams. "He had a superb pass – the best I ever played with. His service was even better than Gareth Edwards."
After retiring from rugby, he became an industrial chemist working in the wood pulp trade for Thompson and Norris. He later became a buyer for Reed International and travelled extensively. He attended the Harvard Business School and became purchasing director for Reed Paper and Board UK. He retired in November, 1980.[3] Having moved to Surrey, he became coach of Esher and became a member of London Welsh.[4]
Tanner died in his sleep on the 5 June 2009, aged 92.[5][6]
References
- ^ Welsh Rugby Union player profiles[permanent dead link]
- ^ Paul Rees (17 August 2009). "Haydn Tanner". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- Independent.co.uk. 19 June 2009. Archivedfrom the original on 9 May 2022.
- TheGuardian.com. 17 August 2009.
- ^ "Lions and Wales legend Tanner passes away". WRU. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
- ^ "Welsh rugby mourns Tanner death". 9 June 2009.