The former Metal Box worker launched his career at Bryncoch RFC and was the first of seven Welsh internationals produced by the club. But it was at The Gnoll that he made his name, scoring 91 tries in more than 200 appearances over a seven year period for the Welsh All Blacks.
He scored seven tries in his debut season of 1953/54 and followed that with 20 the next season and a high of 21 in 1956/57. He played for the Combined Neath & Aberavon XV that went down 5-3 to the 1957/58 Wallabies.
His father, John, won a Wales Schoolboys cap before WW1 and in 1958 Cyril went one better by plying for the Wales senior side. He marked his debut against Ireland at Lansdowne Road on 15 March with a try in a 9-6 for Wales having been brought into the side, along with Howard Nicholls, when both originally selected wings, John Collins and Ray Williams, pulled out.
Wales were trailing 6-0 at half-tie in Dublin, but three second half tries earned them victory. Roberts crossed in the right corner to level the scores before Haydn Morgan on it with a try on the other side of the pitch.
Watch Cyril Roberts score on his debut in Dublin
He was one of four new caps in a side captained by Clem Thomas, three of which were in the back line – Alun Priday at full back, Roberts on the right wing and Nicholls on the other wing. Wales had drawn with England at Twickenham and then beaten Scotland 8-3 earlier in the Five Nations Championship and went into the final game at home against France with a chance of winning the title.
In the end, though, Roberts and his Welsh team mates were beaten 16-6 two weeks later t the Arms Park and finished as runners-up to England. Despite being one of the most prolific try scorers of his era – local writer Alan Hughes described him as “a coruscating runner who thrilled the Gnoll crowd with his touchline dashes” – that was his final international outing.
He went on to played for Neath Athletic and Briton Ferry and remained a loyal supporter of his home town team. The Welsh Rugby Union would like to pass on heartfelt condolences to his friends and family.
Cyril Richard Roberts
Born 19, December, 1930 in Neath
Died 19 June, 2017 in Neath
Wales Cap No 631
