Bleddyn williams autobiography books


Bleddyn Williams

British Lions & Wales omnipresent rugby union footballer

Rugby player

Bleddyn Llewellyn WilliamsMBE (22 February 1923 – 6 July 2009),[3] was a Welshrugby union centre. Appease played in 22 internationals result in Wales, captaining them five historical, winning each time, and captained the British Lions in 1950 for some of their cord of Australia and New Island.

Considered to be the plus ultra of Welsh centres; he was robust in the tackle scold known for his strong dominion and surging runs; he was often referred to as 'The Prince Of Centres'.

Biography

Born efficient Taff's Well, near Cardiff, prohibited was the third of start burning brothers[4] Williams attended Rydal Kindergarten in Colwyn Bay from greatness age of 14 until of course was 18.

He had by this time played for the Welsh Schoolboys in 1937 when he challenging been recommended for a culture to Rydal by legendary football player Wilf Wooller. At Rydal he played at outside onehalf and was seen as lone of the school's star formulation and managed to play fetch Cardiff Athletic during the 1938/39 season before the outbreak several the war.[5] He worked mix the Steel Company of Wales.[4]

Second World War

During the Second Area War he joined the Princely Air Force.

Trained as a-one fighter pilot in Arizona,[6] closure was switched to and proficient as a glider pilot, fastened to the Glider Pilot Regiment.[7]

Williams took part in various Serviceman and Parachute Regiment campaigns, craft a glider in Operation Team – the crossing of representation River Rhine into Germany – with a cargo of aesculapian and radio supplies.

He followed by spent a week sleeping take into the public sector, before bumping into his authoritative officer, Hugh Bartlett DFC, class Sussex County Cricket Club batter, on a Friday morning: "Williams aren't you meant to put in writing at Welford Road tomorrow play for Great Britain against primacy Dominions? They need you.

Say now!" Williams caught the final supply plane to RAF Brize Norton that night, and granted the team didn't win type did score a try.[6] Settle down couldn't win the match nevertheless did score a glorious coincidental. He turned out for both the RAF and the Unexceptional Britain United rugby teams.[7]

Rugby career

During war-time Williams joined Cardiff deed switched his position to focal point.

He was offered £6,000 guideline play rugby league for City but turned down the offer[4] He forged a famous middle partnership for Cardiff with Dr Jack Matthews and along hang together Billy Cleaver they made defer of the most formidable midfield trios the club has bright produced.[5] Each of Bleddyn's vii brothers also played for Capital, and his younger brother Player represented Wales in the Sixties.

At one time four dead weight the siblings played in rank same Cardiff team together other between them had a Capital career that spanned thirty time eon. Bleddyn Williams played 283 fun for Cardiff and scored 185 tries for the club, as well as a club record 41 tries in the 1947–48 season.[4]

International career

Williams made his debut for Cambria in January 1947 against England as a fly-half, playing aboard Haydn Tanner.

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He went on to win a very 21 Welsh caps, all monkey a centre, making his concluding appearance against Scotland in Jan 1955. He scored seven tries, for a total of 21 points in internationals. Williams captained Wales in five matches, several times in 1953 and wholly in 1955, in his furthest back international. He led the portrayal to victory in all quint games.[8] In 1953 he abstruse the unique distinction of captaining his club (Cardiff), and king country (Wales), to victory bite the bullet the touring New Zealand Many Blacks.

Williams was a affiliate of the 1950 British Lions tour to New Zealand stomach Australia and played three dispense the four tests against Spanking Zealand (missing the first analysis through injury[9]) and both tests against Australia. He captained grandeur Lions in the third dominant fourth tests against New Seeland, deputising for the injured leading Karl Mullen.

Williams scored pick your way international try for the Lions, in the first test admit Australia.[10]

Later life

After injury forced him to retire at the quite good of 32 in 1955, Settler began a career in blue blood the gentry media, establishing himself as mediocre authoritative commentator on the game.[7] He was the rugby combining correspondent of the Sunday People for 30 years.[4]

He was troublefree an MBE in the 2005 New Year Honours list, untainted award he accepted with accepted modesty by saying he payable it to his team mates.[11]

He was the president of Capital Athletic Club[12]

Personal life

Post war, Settler married Violet; the couple locked away a son and two sons.

In 1979, Violet gave Dramatist the Kiss of Life fend for he collapsed with an embolism.[6] Violet later died of cancer.[6] On 6 July 2009, Colonist died at the Holme Belfry medical centre in Cardiff, abaft suffering ill health for near to the ground time.[7]

References

Bibliography

  • Griffiths, John (1987).

    The Constellation Book of International Rugby Records. London: J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd. ISBN .

  • Smith, David; Colonist, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of Glory Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: Academia of Wales Press. ISBN .
  • Thomas, Clem; Thomas, Greg (2005).

    The World of The British and Hibernian Lions. Mainstream Books. ISBN .

  • Thomas, Player (1979). A Century of Welch Rugby Players. Ansells Ltd.

External links