An immaculate full back who was safe as houses in defence, he scored more than 1500 points in more than 400 appearances for Neath. He also played for St Luke’s College, Devon County, Glamorgan County, Welsh Academicals and the Barbarians.
He made his debut for Wales at Lansdowne Road on 17 November, 1962 in the Five Nations game that had been held over to the following season because of the outbreak of smallpox in the Rhondda. He was one of four new caps, along with the Llanelli duo of Brian Davies and John Warlow and clubmate John Davies, and distinguished himself by kicking a 50 yard penalty that led to a 3-3 draw.
That was the start of a run of 11 successive appearances in the No 15 jersey for Wales before Llanelli’s Terry Price took over for the 1965 Triple Crown campaign. Grahame fought back into contention when Price was injured to play in the final three matches in the 1966 Five Nations championship and help Wales retain the championship.
His 15th and final game for Wales came in the 3-0 defeat by Ireland at Cardiff Arms Park on 11 March, 1967. He won five, lost seven and drew three of his games for Wales and kicked four penalties.
He went on Wales’ first overseas tour, to South Africa in 1964, and played in all five matches. He also played for the Combined Aberavon & Neath XV against the Springboks in 1961 and 1969, New Zealand in 1963 and Australia in 1966.
“Grahame was a great kicker from hand and an excellent goalkicker as well. He was a wonderful servant as both player and coach for Neath and was a player to whom I looked up when I was starting my senior career,” said WRU President, Dennis Gethin.
“I remember during my playing days as a student at Cambridge University being approached by the then Cardiff captain Keith Rowlands after we had won at the Arms Park and invited to play for the club when I left college.
“I felt 10 feet tall, but then Keith added the rider ‘because you aren’t going to get into your home town team because Neath have got Grahame Hodgson at full back’. He was held in very high regard by his peers.”
Grahame was born in Ogmore Vale on 1 December, 1936, and learned his rugby at Ogmore Vale Grammar School and made his debut for Neath in the 1958/59 season while still a student at St Luke’s College, Exeter. While he was studying to become a teacher in the west country he played for Teignmouth, Torquay, Exeter and Devon Country.
His career at Neath saw him become established as one of the club’s greatest full backs and he was made captain in 1964/65. He took the club points record in a season up to 237 in 1966/67 when he helped the side win the Western Mail Unofficial Welsh Championship and the Sunday Telegraph Anglo-Welsh title.
He was player-coach at The Gnoll during the club’s Centenary season of 1971/72, when they marked their 100th year by winning the WRU Challenge Cup at the National Ground, Cardiff Arms Park.
His teaching career began in the PE department at Heol Gam Secondary Modern (now Brynteg Lower) and he became Deputy Headteacher at Bryntirion Comprehensive before retiring. He was also an active member of the Neath Former Players Association and became chairman of the Welsh Academicals.
The WRU offers its sincerest condolences to Grahame’s family for their recent loss.
