ICONIC: The JPR Williams Collection

Our Dad, also known as John to his friends and JPR around the world, was very proud of his jersey collection — it was on display in glass cabinets upstairs. His career spanned 11 years at the top level and many of his opponents paid him the compliment of asking to swap their jersey after a game. Considering how many times he played for Wales, he didn’t actually have many Welsh jerseys for that reason and also because he donated many for charity dinners. He also gave other jerseys away to the clubs he was involved with such as Bridgend, Pontyclun and Tondu. 

Quietly, Dad played for twenty-five years after his final Welsh match, “hiding in the back row” for Tondu. At one time the three backrow players had a combined age of 115 yrs and they were dubbed the 3 D’s… the Doctor, the Dentist and the Dustman! He absolutely loved rugby, from grassroots up!

After he was lost to us in January last year, it was evident that he had touched so many people’s lives. The huge number of cards, letters, and anecdotes were testament to that. And so we felt as a family, it was time to share these jerseys and their stories with the wider public.

After Gareth’s Greatest Try Barbarians jersey was auctioned 2 years ago, Dad looked at the jerseys again and thought they needed some attention as they had been in the cabinet since ‘78… a bit dusty! So, there they were for a few spring days, on the washing line - quite a colourful site! He talked about them one by one as they were airing on the old Rayburn and Mum took some notes. You can read his comments here for yourselves.

It has been an emotional, uplifting, and at times exhausting procedure looking through the old photos and programmes, but we are so proud of Dad and all his achievements. We were amazed that he packed so much into his life, even before we were all born. Then he became the best, supportive father possible. His love and pride extended to his 10 much adored grandchildren.

---Lauren, Annie, Fran and Peter Williams

To accompany:

• Barbarians FC dinner card in honour of the New Zealand Rugby Touring Team 1972-73, in good condition.
• Match programme.
• Black and white reproduced photo with signatures over the tops in black ink of JPR Williams, Phil Bennett, Gareth Edwards, Tommy David, and John Dawes.
• Booklet with match-by-match reports and pictures of New Zealand’s rugby tour of the British Isles 1972-73 entitled ‘All Blacks in the Lion’s Den’, colour cover and with colour photographs, 72 pages.

The Barbarians vs New Zealand match was played at Cardiff Arms Park to a capacity crowd. It remains one of the most famous rugby matches of all time, in which certainly the most famous try of all time was scored. ‘That try’—commonly described as ‘the greatest try’—was scored by Sir Gareth Edwards, but started off by Phil Bennett, who then passed to JPR Williams, who shrugged off a high tackle from Bryan Williams—one of several high tackles JPR endured over the course of the match.

The match was the final contest for New Zealand’s 1972/73 tour of the British Isles. It was regarded by the All Blacks as a chance to avenge their test series loss against the British Lions in 1971—all but three of the Barbarians having been on the ‘71 tour. It was also an opportunity for the British public to see their victorious British Lions in action, with some of the most exciting players of a golden era of rugby, including David Duckham, John Dawes, Phil Bennett, Willie John McBride, and in this jersey, JPR Williams.

The match was spectacular, with some of the best passers, runners, and side-steppers playing in their prime. It was a high energy game full of adventure, running breaks, improvisation, and spontaneity. Especially from the Barbarians, who, coached by Carwyn James, had an appetite to play rugby ‘in the spirit of the Barbarians’.

Nigel Starmer-Smith said, "the match set such a high standard of excellence that it will forever be a yardstick by which games of rugby football union will be judged".

Sean Fitzpatrick said the match "inspired me to take up rugby".

JPR inflicted the ‘shattering blow’ on the All Blacks when, with only a few minutes to go, he beat Joe Karam with a side-step to score the final try in the right-hand corner. The commentator, Bill McLaren would later describe it in his 1991 documentary 'Bill's Best Bits' as being on par with 'The Greatest Try Ever Scored', and a passage of play that made you "gasp in wonder".

Beginning from a lineout just outside New Zealand's 25, the ball was kept in play for over 90 seconds (a very rare feat for rugby matches of that era) and all 15 Barbarian players touched the ball at least once in the passage of play. Featuring a remarkable reverse pass by Edwards, two sniping runs apiece by Duckham and Gibson, a try-saving tackle by Karam and interception by Colling, and Slattery's accurate pass that put JPR in space, who then side-stepped Karam to score in the corner.

The 1971 Lions were the first British team to win a major series abroad in the 20th Century and the only time the Lions have won a series in New Zealand. The tour was a huge success for British rugby and as a public relations exercise for the sport in the UK.

In the 1991 Souvenir Programme for the 20th Anniversary of the tour, captain John Dawes wrote:

It was described by JPR in his autobiography, as "the experience of a lifetime".

The Lions succeeded in a tense, often brutal series of matches and have since been regarded as the finest British Lions team to tour, a team that struck a massive blow for Northern Hemisphere rugby. The squad of 13 Welsh, 6 Irish and English, and 5 Scottish players was captained by John Dawes, who had helped develop London Welsh into one of the most formidable club sides. The coach was Carwyn James, who believed in free-flowing rugby where players could express themselves. James had the players to do just that, with raw talent throughout: JPR Williams, wearing this jersey, together with John Bevan, John Dawes, Barry John, Mike Gibson and Gerald Davies.

There were decision makers and big characters deep into the ‘71 squad, players comfortable with the ball in their hands as well as natural footballers. The tour began inauspiciously with two matches against Australian provinces. The first, against Queensland was but 58 hours away after flying half-way across the world. They lost 15-11. The second was New South Wales with the Lions scraping a 14-12 win. Their chances of glory in All Blacks territory were ridiculed by the Australian press. It was an ominous start.

But the Lions needed time to find their feet and shake off their jetlag. They won the next ten matches in New Zealand before the first test. Wins included Waikato, the Maoris, Wellington, and Canterbury. It was the Canterbury match on June 19th, one week before the First Test, which is remembered for the wrong reasons. It was to be a rough-up of the Lions, known as the ‘Battle of Lancaster Park’, the ‘Game of Shame’. It was a violent affair of punch-ups resulting in swollen eyes and broken bones, including a fractured cheekbone to Lion Sandy Carmichael and concussion for Fergus Slattery. John Pullin was felled by a punch from behind and Sir Gareth Edwards was floored by a rabbit punch. The Lions tried to play the Carwyn-way and thanks to superior handling they won what was a moral victory. But they would need to finish the tour without Ray McLoughlin and Carmichael in the front-row. Second string props were flown out. In the first test at Dunedin on 26th June, Gareth Edwards sustained a leg injury and was replaced by Ray ‘Chico’ Hopkins. The Lions scraped a 9-3 win with two Barry John penalties in the second half. It was not an emphatic victory, but great for morale - the All Blacks could be beaten!

But as JPR recalled:

The second test was more of an open affair. Burgess scored the first try for New Zealand, Gerald Davies scored a try in reply. Then Sid Going scored from a ruck. In the second half New Zealand were awarded a penalty try, Burgess scored the second of the day and then Ian Kirkpatrick scored a famous solo try. New Zealand were cruising 22-6, but there was a spirited revival from the Lions, and they managed to claw back to 22-12, again through Davies. The final score was 22-12 to New Zealand, and the All Blacks had stopped the Lions run of 15 games without defeat.

The second test, however, was not so memorable for JPR:

There were four more Lions’ wins including one against Hawke’s Bay, who put in a cynical performance to match the Battle of Lancaster Park, this time Pullin was badly hurt by a punch. But Davies and Barry John tormented the opposition with skill and flair, with Davies scoring four tries.

The Fate Deciding Third Test:

The series level at 1-1 made the penultimate 3rd test at Wellington on 31st of July critical. The Lions needed to win to give them the chance of a series victory. The wind was strong in Wellington, and having won the toss, the Lions opted to use the elements. It was a good decision, with Barry John executing a long drop goal in the 3rd minute to raise the Lion’s tails. Later Davies went over for a try after an All Blacks’ lineout blunder. Barry John scored another and the Lions won 13-3—they could not now lose the series.

The third test was also remembered for a blow to All Black Bob Burgess which rendered him unconscious, with JPR intervening as he lay stricken on the ground and in danger of choking. Burgess was ever thankful to JPR for saving his life.

An All Blacks victory in the final test at Eden Park, Auckland, on August 14 would draw the series. It was a tense affair, without much flowing running rugby. The All Blacks scored a converted try first, they then kicked a penalty and as half-time drew nearer, the result was looking ominously in their favour. But the Lions rallied, Barry John scored a penalty, Peter Dixon scored a try, Barry John converted. The game was drawn 8-8 at half-time. After the break, Barry John scored another penalty, New Zealand replied with the same, and with 8 minutes to go the stage was set for JPR as he scored a brilliant drop goal from 40 metres—the defining moment of the tour and in this jersey!

The drop goal is defined as one of Sir Gareth Edwards ’Greatest Rugby Moments’ (Gomer, 2015):

In the dying moments New Zealand struck back with another penalty to draw the match 14-14, but it was not enough to save their series. A series victory for the Lions.

The Lions won their first series in New Zealand and would return to Heathrow to thousands of fans as history makers and architects of a monumental step forward for home nations rugby. It was a glorious tour which helped rugby union gain appeal with the British public. They destroyed the aura of invincibility of the All Blacks and they’ll be remembered for the intention to play the Carwyn James-way in utilising their exciting backs. Clem Thomas wrote "I am often asked, and indeed I often ask myself, which was the greatest team, 1971 or 1974….it is my opinion that the ‘71 Lions had backs who were without equal in my experience".

Whilst the rest of the victorious tour party flew back to the UK to adulation, JPR stayed on in Auckland and so he witnessed first-hand the mood of the rugby mad New Zealand populous. With laughter and a twinkle in his eye, he recalled:

JOHN PETER RHYS WILLIAMS MBE: TIMELINE

1949  Born March 2nd

1953-9  Laleston County Primary School

1959-60  Bryntiron Prep School

1960-6  Bridgend Boys Grammar School

1966-7  Millfield School

1966  Junior Wimbledon Tennis Title

1967-73  St Mary’s Hospital Medical School

1967  Welsh Secondary Schools rugby cap (3)

1968  Welsh rugby tour to Argentina

1968  1st Bachelor of Medicine

1969  Full Welsh Cap

1970  2nd Bachelor of Medicine

1971  British Lions tour of NZ (all four tests)

1973  Barbarians v New Zealand ‘the greatest match’

1974  British Lions tour of South Africa (all four tests)

1975  Wales tour of Japan

1977  Rothman’s Player of 1976-77

1977  Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

1978  Wales tour of Australia

1979  Wales 50th cap

1979  This is Your Life

1981  Final Wales cap (55)

1997  Inductee to International Rugby Hall of Fame