J. J. Williams (rugby union)
Birth name | John James Williams | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 1 April 1948 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Nantyffyllon, Maesteg, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of death | 29 October 2020 | (aged 72)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Maesteg Grammar School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | Cardiff College of Education | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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John James Williams
Williams played for the Bridgend Ravens and Llanelli RFC in the 1970s. His time at Llanelli included a famous win against the All Blacks in 1972. He was a key try creator and scorer for the 1974 British Lions tour to South Africa. After his retirement in 1980, Williams became a pundit and commentator for BBC Cymru Wales and later a successful businessman. His son, Rhys, is a professional track and field athlete.
Career
Williams was born in
He became Welsh sprint champion in 1971.Williams initially played rugby for Bridgend before joining Llanelli RFC, for whom he played a total of 223 games in nine seasons and scored 164 tries.[5]
He gained his first international cap in 1973 in a victory over
Post retirement
Williams later ran a commercial and industrial painting company based in Pyle, near
He died on 29 October 2020 at the age of 72 from cancer. He is survived by his wife and three children.[12][2]
Honours
Personal honours
- Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours "for services to Rugby and charitable services in Wales."[13]
- Inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame in 2009[3]
Team honours
Llanelli
- WRU Challenge Cup
- Winner (4): 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976[3]
- Snelling Sevens
- Winner (2): 1973, 1979[3]
Wales
- Five Nations Championship
- Grand Slam
- Triple Crown
British and Irish Lions
References
- ^ "JJ Williams, former Wales and Lions great, dies aged 72". The Guardian. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ a b "JJ Williams obituary". The Guardian. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Obituary: Wales legend JJ Williams passes away". Welsh Rugby Union. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "John Williams". ESPNScrum.com. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
- ^ a b Jack de Menezes (29 October 2020). "JJ Williams death: Wales rugby and British and Irish Lions great dies, aged 72". The Independent. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ Blache, Phil (29 October 2020). "JJ Williams – 'the fastest wing in the world'". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ^ a b "Obituary: Former Wales and Lions wing JJ Williams dies". BBC Sport. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ "JJ Williams – About JJ Williams". Archived from the original on 5 January 2009.
- ^ "Lions great leads Stadium bid". BBC Sport. 6 October 2003. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
- ^ Gillingham, Martin (31 July 2005). "Rhys follows in his father's footsteps". THe Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
- ^ "Wales Abdominal Aortic Screening Programme". NHS Wales. April 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
- ^ a b "JJ Williams: Legendary Wales and British and Irish Lions wing dies". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ The United Kingdom:"No. 60367". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 28 December 2012. p. 23.
External links
- JJ Williams, left wing, BBC.co.uk