Last week the IRB announced that Ray Williams, the first paid coaching official in world rugby, had been selected to receive their highest award for services to rugby, the Vernon Pugh Award. Not only that, he became the first Welshman to be honoured in the 14 year history of the award.
Former Welsh Rugby Union IRB representative Gerald Davies led the tributes at a special reception at Parc y Scarlets and gave an insight into the man who help pioneer coaching around the world and Welsh training sessions on Aberavon beach.
“Ray changed our perception of the view we should have of rugby football in the future. He tabulated the essential ingredients of the game in which he was involved so deeply and went on to preach his rugby gospel all over the world,” said Davies.
“He did nothing less than to cause a revolution in the game. It was the bringing together of coaching ideas and physical preparation in a way that had never been done before and the world came to Wales for his coaching courses and to listen to what Ray Williams had to say about coaching.
“It was to the great tribute of the WRU that after Wales lost 24-3 to South Africa in 1964 they demanded that this should never happen again. We needed to coach the game and get better at it.
“That’s when Ray became the first Coaching Organiser in the world game. But this award is not merely for his contribution to coaching, it is for his many other contributions to the game as the WRU Centenary Officer (1980), WRU Secretary (1980-88), WRU Board Member (1993-97), IRB Board Member (1993-1997), Chairman of the Lions committee (1997) and Tournament Director of the 1991 Rugby World Cup.
“Ray always wanted to improve the game, to get players to search for excellence in everything they did. The WRU should be proud of his achievements, as should everyone in Wales.”
Now in his eighties and living in Haverfordwest, the north Wales-born Williams said he had received his award “with great pride” and thanked the IRB for singling him out.
Among the audience at the ceremony were many of the greats of the golden Grand Slam era of the seventies – Barry John, JPR Williams, John Taylor, Tony Faulkner, Phil Bennett – as well as former Welsh coaches Clive Rowlands, John Dawes and Gareth Jenkins.
The former RFU President and Harrow head master Ian Beer, who had worked on one of the earliest coaching booklets with Williams in the fifties was joined by the WRU President Dennis Gethin and the new WRU chairman, Gareth Davies.
“This is a fitting tribute to Ray who was a true pioneer in the coaching world. He playeda leading role in developing Welsh rugby at a crucical stage of its evolution,” said Mr Gethin.
“He quite rightly enjoys a reputation across the world of rugby as a true innoavator who has immense knowledge, passion and commitment to the game.”
Winners of the Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service
2014 – Ray Williams (Wales)
2013 – Ian McIntosh (South Africa)
2012 – Viorel Morariu (Romania)
2011 – Jock Hobbs (New Zealand)
2010 – Jean-Claude Baque (France)
2009 – Noel Murphy (Ireland)
2008 – Nicholas Shehadie (Australia)
2007 – Jose Epalza (Spain)
2006 – Brian Lochore (New Zealand)
2005 – Peter Crittle (Australia)
2004 – Ronnie Dawson (Ireland)
2003 – Bob Stuart (New Zealand)
2002 – Allan Hosie (Scotland)
2001 – Tom Kiernan (Ireland)
