Record

CodeDS/UK/1317
Dates1930-1993
Person NameWilliams; Rhys Haydn (1930-1993); Welsh rugby union player and administrator
SurnameWilliams
ForenamesRhys Haydn
EpithetWelsh rugby union player and administrator
ActivityLock, played for University College, Cardiff, Llanelli RFC, Royal Air Force, Combined Services, Bristol RFC, Barbarian F.C., Wales (1954-1960, 23 caps, 3 points) and British and Irish Lions (1955-1959, 10 caps, 0 points).
Later was 15 years on the WRU Committee and was a national selector, and chairman of selectors, for a number of years. He also served on the committee of the Barbarian F.C. - a club with which he toured Canada and South Africa as a player - and managed the Wales B tour to Spain in 1983. "The best tribute to his playing ability came in New Zealand in 1959 after the Lions had won the fourth and final test in Auckland. 'RH' had played in all four games, the first three going the home side's way, and had made such an impact that the Kiwis invited him into their private post-match function and presented him with an All Black jersey. No greater mark of respect could a forward ask, no greater compliment or tribute be paid." [Source for this paragraph: Robert Cole 'Obituary: R. H. Williams', The Independent, 29 January 1993] Rugby historian John Griffiths described Williams as "the finest line-jumper in the world" and "the most accomplished British lock of the 1950s" [Source: 'One hundred years of scarlet. Llanelli Rugby Football Club.']
Dates and PlacesBorn 14 July 1930, Cwmllynfell, West Glamorgan [Neath-Port Talbot], died 27 January 1993, Whitchurch, Cardiff, aged 62.
Archive Catalogue
RefNoTitle
BML/1/2/4Big sheet and bundle, Scotland versus Wales, Murrayfield, 2 February 1957
BML/1/2/5Big sheet and bundle, Wales versus Scotland, Cardiff Arms Park, 1 February 1958
BML/1/2/1Big sheet and bundle, Wales versus Scotland, Swansea, 10 April 1954
BML/2/2/38Big sheet and bundle, Scotland versus Australia, Murrayfield, 19 December 1981
BML/1/2/2Big sheet and bundle, Scotland versus Wales, Murrayfield, 5 February 1955
BML/6/1/7Big sheet and bundle, Glasgow versus British Isles, [late 1950s]
BML/1/2/6Big sheet and bundle, Scotland versus Wales, Murrayfield, 7 February 1959
BML/1/2/3Big sheet and bundle, Wales versus Scotland, Cardiff Arms Park, 4 February 1956
BML/1/2/33Big sheet and bundle, Wales versus Scotland, Cardiff Arms Park, 1 February 1986
BML/7/1Big sheet and bundle, Scotland and Ireland versus England and Wales, Lansdowne Road, 31 December 1955, and England and Wales versus Scotland and Ireland, Twickenham, 17 October 1959
BML/1/6/16Big sheet and bundle, England versus Wales, Twickenham, 6 March 1982
BML/2/2/40Big sheet and bundle, Barbarian F.C. versus Australia, Cardiff Arms Park, 9 January 1982
BML/1/9/11Big sheet and bundle, Ireland versus Wales, Lansdowne Road, 23 January 1982 and Wales versus Ireland, Cardiff Arms Park, 5 March 1983
BML/2/2/35Big sheet and bundle, Wales versus Australia, Cardiff Arms Park, 5 December 1981
BML/2/2/45Big sheet and bundle, Barbarian F.C. versus Australia, Cardiff Arms Park, 15 December 1984
BML/1/2/29Big sheet and bundle, Wales versus Scotland, Cardiff Arms Park, 20 March 1982
BML/1/2/36Big sheet and bundle, Scotland versus Wales, Murrayfield, 21 January 1989.
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