Alun Priday, the former Cardiff and Wales full back who has died at the age of 92, played more times and scored more points in his 14 seasons at the Arms Park than any player before him.
As well as winning two caps at full back for Wales, he also played against all three major touring teams for his club and played for the Barbarians. In his record 410 appearances for the Blue & Blacks he scored 1316 points, topping a century of points in eight successive seasons.
As well as being one of the highest points accumulators in the Welsh club game, he was also one of the most tried and trusted of full backs. He made his Wales debut against Ireland in 1958 and won his second cap against the same opposition on home ground in 1961, when Wales triumphed 9-0.
He came into the side for the game in Dublin in 1958 when Llanelli’s Terry Davies was injured. Despite helping Wales to a 9-6 win at Lansdowne Road he was replaced by the fit again Davies for the championship decider against France a few weeks later.
He turned down English trials – he had three English grandparents – to follow his dream of playing for Wales. When he got the call, it was his wife who rang to tell him the good news – on their first wedding anniversary.
Having learned his rugby at Whitchurch Grammar School he made his Cardiff debut against Harlequins on 6 April 1953. He confessed to being so nervous before the game that he spent more than an hour before kick-off walking up and down St Mary Street trying to compose himself.
Cardiff won that game and he went on to become a mainstay of the side. He kicked five points in the win over the 1957 Wallabies and played against the Springboks in 1960 and the All Blacks in 1963.
A broken jaw in a game at Bridgend in 1965 ended his Cardiff first team career, although he did go on to captain the ‘Rags’ the next season. He also played for a season at Rhiwbina RFC before hanging up his boots.
A highly accomplished cricketer, he was a fast bowler and handy batsman for many years for Cardiff Cricket Club and was also good enough to play for the Glamorgan 2nd XI. He joined the Cardiff RFC committee in 1966 and went on to serve as secretary for 16 years before taking up the role of chairman in 1990.
He was among the first players to be inducted into the Cardiff Rugby Hall of Fame and in November 2021 he was elected president of Cardiff Athletic Club. He was also president of the Cardiff Former Players Association.
The Welsh Rugby Union offers sincere condolences to the family and friends of Alun Priday and thanks him for his contribution to the game in Wales.
Alun James Priday (2 caps – Cap No: 630): B: 23.01.1933 in Cardiff; D: in Cardiff 11.04.2025