And the scorer of the Greatest Welsh Try of All Time? Ieuan Evans, against Scotland at Cardiff Arms Park in 1988. As the great rugby commentator Bill McLaren said at the time: ‘It was magic, magic all the way, not even Merlin the Magician could have done any better.’
For decades the Welsh rugby public have been arguing about who is the greatest player ever to wear the Welsh jersey; who was the greatest scrum half, centre, prop and No 8; who was the greatest coach; what was the best try ever scored.
That’s why the newly formed Welsh Rugby Former International Players’ Association, supported by the Welsh Rugby Union and sponsored by Diageo and Coors, decided to join forces with the Scottish-based First Press Events company, to stage the biggest rugby dinner of all-time in Wales at the Cardiff International Arena on Thursday 21 November 2002.
**Click here to comment on the results
After months of planning, and voting via the Western Mail, South Wales Echo, Wales on Sunday and the nine Celtic Press titles, the public votes were sifted by a team of experts and a ‘crowd’ of almost 1,000 packed into the CIA to discover who were the ‘Greatest’.
Among the audience were the First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, the actor Philip Madoc and the Welsh rock band, the Stereophonics. Huw Edwards, the BBC News anchorman, compered the show and more than 100 former Welsh internationals were in the audience.
**Click here to send a message to Gareth Edwards
Here is a complete list of winners on the night:
WELSH LEGENDS ALL TIME GREATS
Greatest Ever Attacking Player: PHIL BENNETT
Greatest Ever Defensive Player: JPR WILLIAMS
Greatest Ever Goalkicker: NEIL JENKINS
Greatest Ever Welsh Coach: JOHN DAWES
Greatest Ever Welsh Captain: MERVYN DAVIES
Greatest Ever Try: IEUAN EVANS (v Scotland, Cardiff Arms Park, 1988)
Spirit of Welsh Rugby Award: CARWYN JAMES
Bravery Award: GWYN JONES
Lifetime Achievement Award: CLIVE ROWLANDS
THE GREATEST WELSH TEAM OF ALL TIME
Fullback: JPR WILLIAMS (London Welsh/Bridgend) (55 caps/6 tries,2cons,3pens 1969-81; 2 Lions tours, 8 Tests; 3 Grand Slams, 6 Triple Crowns)
Right Wing: GERALD DAVIES (London Welsh/Cardiff) (46 caps/20 tries (72pts) 1966-78; 2 Lions tours, 5 Tests; 3 Grand Slams, 5 Triple Crowns)
Left Wing: JJ WILLIAMS (Llanelli)
(30 caps/12 tries 1973-79; 2 Lions tours, 7 Tests; 2 Grand Slams, 4 Triple Crowns)
Outside Centre: JOHN DAWES (London Welsh)
(22 caps/4 tries 1964-71; 1 Lions tour, 4 Tests; 1 Grand Slam, 3 Triple Crowns)
Inside Centre: BLEDDYN WILLIAMS (Cardiff)
(22 caps/7 tries 1947-1955; 1 Lions tour, 5 Tests; 1 Grand Slam, 1 Triple Crown; 1953 win over NZ)
Outside Half: BARRY JOHN (Llanelli/Cardiff) (25 caps/5 tries,6cons,8dg,13pens (90pts) 1966-72; 2 Lions tours, 5 Tests; 1 Grand Slam, 2 Triple Crowns)
Scrum Half: GARETH EDWARDS (Cardiff) (53 caps/20 tries,2cons,3dg (85pts) 1967-78; 3 Lions tours, 10 tests; 3 Grand Slams, 5 Triple Crowns)
Loose head Prop: DENZIL WILLIAMS (Ebbw Vale)(36 caps/1 try 1963-71; 1 Lions tour, 5 Tests; 1 Grand Slam, 3 Triple Crowns)
Tight head Prop: GRAHAM PRICE (Pontypool) (41 caps/2 tries 1975-83; 3 Lions tours, 12 Tests; 2 Grand Slams, 4 Triple Crowns)
Hooker: BRYN MEREDITH (Newport) (34 caps/3 tries 1954-62; 3 Lions tours, 8 Tests)
Lock: DELME THOMAS (Llanelli)(25 caps 1966-74; 3 Lions, 7 Tests; 1 Grand Slam, 2 Triple Crowns)Lock: GEOFF WHEEL (Swansea)
(32 caps 1974-82; 2 Grand Slams, 4 Triple Crowns)Blindside Flanker:
DAI MORRIS (Neath)(34 caps/6 tries 1967-74; 1 Grand Slam, 2 Triple Crowns)
Openside Flanker: JOHN TAYLOR (London Welsh)
(26 caps/4tries,3cons,2pens 1967-73; 2 Lions tours, 4 Tests; 1 Grand Slam, 2 Triple Crowns)
No 8: MERVYN DAVIES (London Welsh/Swansea)
(38 caps/2 tries 1969-76; 2 Lions tours, 8 Tests; 2 Grand Slams, 3 Triple Crowns)
The Greatest Ever Welsh International Player
GARETH EDWARDS
