Backs:
Gerwyn Williams – Born in Glyncorrwg, he was a cricketer for Wales Schools and boxing champion at Loughborough College. His National Service was in the Royal Navy, then playing for Llanelli and skippering London Welsh. He won 13 caps and became a renowned coach as well as being head of PE at Whitgift School and coaching both Cambridge University and Blackheath. A life meber of his village club, He is now aged 79 and lives near Croydon in England.
Ken Jones – He was possibly the finest athlete/rugby man of all time. An Olympic silver medallist of 1948 in the sprint relay, he actually had the gold for 48 hours until the USA were reinstated. Born in Blaenavon, Ken was a sergeant in the RAF in India during the war, returning to be a star for Newport. He scored many great tries – 17 in 44 caps for Wales – but the one in the Fourth Lions test of 1950 at Auckland and the one that gained Wales a victory in this match stand out highest. A schoolmaster who captained Britain at Athletics and who won medals in the Commonwealth Games and was the final baton carrier of the 1958 event in Cardiff. Later he became a journalist with the Sunday Express and was ordered an OBE, Now lives in the Malpas area of Newport at the age of 81.
Gareth Griffiths – Aged 22 at the time of the game, he excited crowds with his skill and good looks, winning 12 caps. Born next door to the legendary Willie Llewellyn in Penygraig, he was a schoolmaster, then moved into public relations and worked for Amersham International. Headed a WRU inquiry in 1993 and was appointed executive director of the Institute of Welch Affairs in 1994. He now lives in Penarth and is aged 71.
Bleddyn Williams (capt) – Despite losing many good years to war service as a flying officer, Bleddyn won 22 caps and was vice-captain of the 1950 Lions as well as skippering Wales and Cardiff to victory over the All Blacks. Led Wales on five occasions and was a winner each time. One of eight brothers to play for Cardiff, he became the Sunday People journalist in Wales and was Regional Marketing Manager for Wimpey Construction. Despite simultaneous operations on both knees, Bleddyn remains an active Cardiff Athletic Club president at the age of 80 years and four months. Born in Taffs Well, he lives in Cardiff.
Gwyn Rowlands – An Englishman, who was born in Berkhamstead, where he is still a doctor of medicine, Gwyn had played in English trials whilst a student at London Hospital. He joined the RAF and did National Service at St Athan, joining Cardiff and was one of the most popular players to play for the club. A right wing, he played on the left in this match on his debut scoring in both in the Cardiff and Wales victories. He won four caps and was a darling of the Arms Park crowd. His links with Wales continued when his daughter Jane played at lacrosse. Now aged 74.
Cliff Morgan – The Rhondda Rounabout. Clifford Isaac Morgan, CVO, OBE, was one of the sport’s great outside halves. He played 29 times for Wales and in all four tests of the Lions great tour to South Africa in 1955, scoring a wonderous try in a 23-22 first test win and skippering the side to third test glory, as well as inspiring Cardiff’s win over these All Blacks. He joined the BBC in 1958, rising to Head of Outside Broadcasts by 1987. Despite a stroke in 1972, his love for the game has continued and he lives in London at the age 73.
Rex Willis – ‘Sexy Rexy’, as Cliff Morgan called him, Rex was a cinema owner from the Llandaff area of Cardiff, who was as tough as teak. He played 21 times for Wales and even a double fractured jaw against Scotland never halted him, making 208 appearances in 11 seasons with Cardiff. Sadly, he died in January 1975 at the age of 1975.
Forwards:
W O Williams – Prop forward William Owen Gooding Williams was known as Billy or Stoker, coming from his days in the Royal Navy. At the toughest f times, he had a smile and none more so than when he led the Lions pack to a Third Test test win of 1955 in South Africa. He won 22 caps. Born in the Gower in 1929, he still lives there at the age of 73. A boilermaker and then steelworker, he played most of his rugby with the Swansea club.
D M Davies – A hooker who was always known as Dai. Though he began at Penygraig, his senior career revolved around the Somerset Police where both he and his brother played. He won 17 caps. Now aged 78.
Courtenay Meredith – Born in Pontypridd and educated at Neath Technical College and the University College in Cardiff. Prop forward Courtenay was the educated voice of one of the World’s greatest-ever front-rows of himself, Billy Williams and Bryn Meredith. A Steelworks official at the Steel Company of Wales in Margam, he played for Crynant and Neath, winning 14 caps. Now at the age of 76, he still is a fine, fit, strong man.
Rees Stephens – Neath forward who followed his father Glyn to Wales colours, winning 32 caps and was a respected coach of the Neath Youth (Colts) sides. He served as a WRU selector for several years, whilst also being a cafe proprietor. The man who scored the first Welsh try after the Second World War, died in February 1998 at the age of 75.
Roy John – He could sprint, dummy and pass like a threequarter. The finest of lineout jumpers and was hailed by the 1950 All Blacks when he appeared in the most matches by the Lions there and by the 1951-52 Springboks. He worked as a quantity surveyor and was a great loss to Neath and Wales when he passed away in 1981 at the age of 55. Many youngsters modelled their play on him.
Sid Judd – Scored tries in both the Cardiff and Wales wins over the All Blacks, but died in February 1959 at the age of 30. A schoolmaster, who played for Cardiff High School (Roberts House) and Wales Schools, He was cruelly struck down by leukemia.
John Gwilliam – Skipper of the Wales Triple Crown years of 1950 and 1952. Born in Pontypridd, he played for Newport, Cambridge University, Gloucester and Edinburgh Wanderers. He married in 1949 and had five children. A schoolmaster at Glenalmond, Trinity College, Bromsgrove School and Head of Lower School at Dulwich College. Now lives in Llanfairfechan, Gwynedd and was 80 last February.
Clem Thomas – The Swansea flanker suffered a motoring accident en route to the game from England, but it was his fortuitous cross-kick that won it. He became Wales skipper until 1959 and then became a highly respected journalist before sadly dying at Singleton Hospital, Swansea in September 1996, at the age of 67. He was a great loss to rugby football.
