Collins was also the Welsh 440 yards sprint champion in 1952 and finished second in the 1955 championships. First capped against Australia in 1958, scoring the only try of the game on his debut, he made his first appearance in a Welsh jersey in the 75th anniversary match at Arms Park in October, 1955.
On that occasion he was in the Wales XV that went down 20-17 against a Lions XV. He scored one of the three Welsh tries in that match and went on to add further international tries against Scotland and France in 1958.
Born in Aberavon on 16 January, 1931, he learned his rugby at St Joseph’s School in the town and at the Cwmgwrach and Aberavon Green Stars clubs. He then joined the Wizards and went on to score 122 tries for the club, three shot of Johnny Ring’s all-time record.
He was an integral part of the Aberavon side that won the Unofficial Western Mail Welsh Championship in 1961 and became the club’s first post war Barbarian in 1959. He also played or the Combined Neath and Aberavon side that met the 1960 Springboks team.
While on National Service, where he served with the Royal Marines, he played for Devonport Services and the Royal Navy. He was one of four new caps who lined-up against Australia on 4 January, 1958, and was forced to miss the Combined Neath and Aberavon game against the tourists a week earlier as a result.
He played against England, Scotland and France in the 1958 Five Nations Championship, all four teams, including Ireland, in 1959, faced England in 1960 and won his final cap against France in 1961. He won four and drew one of his 10 tests.
A steel erector at Margam Abbey Steelworks, he became a publican and for a while ran a bar in Majorca. He returned to live out his days in Aberavon and was an immensely popular character around the town and especially at the rugby club.
He became the self-appointed ‘Bar and Facilities Manager’ in the sponsors room at the Talbot Athletic Ground and was a great entertainer on the piano and in song. He is survived by his wife Phyllis, his two sons Fraser, Steve.
The WRU sends its condolences to all John’s family and friends.
