John Taylor (rugby union, born 1945)

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John Taylor
Birth nameJohn Taylor
Date of birth (1945-07-21) 21 July 1945 (age 78)
Place of birthWatford, England
SchoolWatford Grammar School for Boys
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Loughborough Colleges
London Welsh RFC

London Counties
Surrey
()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1967–1973
1971
British Lions
26
3
(25)
(0)

John Taylor (born 21 July 1945)[1] is a Welsh former rugby union player and current commentator. Nicknamed "Basil Brush" thanks to his wild hair and beard, he was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, and played as a flanker for London Welsh (he later became co-President with former teammate, John Dawes), and represented Wales 26 times between 1967 and 1973.

Rugby career

Playing

Perhaps Taylor's most famous moment was in the

Saint Paul".[2]

John Taylor played for the

1971 tour to New Zealand
, playing in all 4 Tests.

Apartheid

He was notable for the stand he took against

Lions tour to that country but made it clear he would follow his conscience and he refused to tour. He also refused to play against the South Africans during their 1969-1970 Tour of Britain and Ireland. It was Taylor's refusal to face the South Africans for Wales in 1970 that cost him a place with the Barbarians. After Mervyn Davies fell ill before the classic 1973 Barbarian encounter against the All Blacks, Taylor's name was suggested as a replacement. It is alleged that the club secretary for the Barbarians, Brigadier Glyn Hughes, responded negatively to the idea with the response "He's not playing. The man's a Communist!"[3]

Activities after retiring

Since 1991, he has been the lead rugby commentator on ITV Sport, describing the World Cup final victory of England over Australia on 22 November 2003. He retired from ITV after the 2007 Rugby World Cup and commentated for TalkSport on the 2011 RWC in New Zealand.

Throughout the 2015 Rugby World Cup, hosted by England in September and October but also including games at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in Wales, Taylor was the stadium announcer for matches played at Twickenham Stadium, London. He worked at every RWC through to 2015 and has worked on every Lions Tour since 1983.

References