International legends celebrate WRU landmark

Malcolm Thomas, Bryn Meredith, Courtenay Meredith, John Collins, Gareth Griffiths and Russell Robins in particular made it a hat-trick of major occasions. All six featured in the WRU’s 75th Anniversary match at Cardiff Arms Park on 22 October, 1955, when a British Lions XV beat a Welsh XV 20-17, and they also attended the Union”s Centenary celebrations in 1981. So their attendance at the 125th birthday party made for a unique treble.

“I can remember playing for the Lions XV with Gareth and Malcolm back in 1955 for the 75th Anniversary and I was at the Centenary dinner back in 1981. It’s great to have been at the 125th Birthday Party, but I’m not sure many of us will be able to make the 150th,” said Robins.

More than 1,000 people graced the ‘Big Top’ marquee at the Millennium Stadium for a never-to-be-forgotten evening. The WRU President Keith Rowlands paid tribute to the clubs and the great servants of the game over the past 125 years, while WRU Chief Executive Steve Lewis underlined the Union’s on-going commitment to all levels of the game. The WRU chairman, David Pickering rounded off proceedings with a thank you to all the guests. But the biggest cheer of the night was saved for the Union’s Vice Patron, Sir Tasker Watkins. The 87-year-old former President received his IRB Chairman’s Award from Keith Rowlands and received two standing ovations.

Here are a few facts from the night:

There were more than 160 of the 1041 players who have played for Wales at the dinner.

The oldest Welsh cap at the dinner was Jack Matthews OBE – he is currently 85. Jack played 17 times for Wales, was a British Lion in all 6 Tests in New Zealand Australia in 1950 and was the doctor for the 1980 Lions in South Africa. Jack played centre or wing for his country and Cardiff, forming one of the greatest midfield pairings Wales has ever had with Bleddyn Williams.

Among the other octogenarians at the dinner were 84-year-olds Les Anthony (Neath prop who won 33 caps in 1948) and Handel Greville (Llanelli scrum half who earned 1 cap in 1947); the 82-year-old Bleddyn Williams (Cardiff centre who won 22 caps, skipper club and country to wins in 1953 over All Blacks and was a 1950 Lion); the 82-year-old Dil Johnson (Swansea flanker who won 1 cap in 1953); and the 80-year-old Peter Rees (Llanelli wing who won 2 caps in 1947).

There have been 122 Welsh captains in the 556 games played to date and there were 23 of them at the dinner. The earliest captain at the dinner was Jack Matthews (v France 1951) and the most recent Michael Owen, who helped Wales win the Grand Slam in 2005.

The full list of captains at the dinner: Jack Matthews, Bleddyn Williams, Malcolm Thomas, Bryn Meredith, Lloyd Williams, Clive Rowlands, David Watkins, Gareth Edwards, John Dawes, Brian Price, John Lloyd, Phil Bennett, Gerald Davies, JPR Williams, David Pickering, Jonathan Davies, Bleddyn Bowen, Paul Thorburn, Ieuan Evans, Gareth Llewellyn, Paul John, Martyn Williams and Andy Moore.

There were three Grand Slam captains at the dinner – John Dawes (1971), Phil Bennett (1978) and Michael Owen (2005). Malcolm Thomas, who played in all 8 games in both the 1950 and 1952 Grand Slams, was also at the dinner.

There were three representatives of the 1950 Grand Slam side – Jack Matthews, John Robins and Malcolm Thomas; 2 from the 1952 Grand Slam – Bleddyn Williams and Malcolm Thomas; 8 from the 1971 Grand Slam side – JPR Williams, John Dawes, Gareth Edwards, Barrie Llewellyn, Mike Roberts, Dai Morris and John Taylor; 7 from 1976 – JPR, JJ Williams, Gareth Edwards, Graham Price and Trevor Evans; 5 from the 1978 Grand Slam side – JPR, JJ, Phil Bennett, Gareth Edwards, Graham Price; a large number from the 2005 Grand Slam team.

There were 7 Triple Crown captains at the dinner – Clive Rowlands (1965), Brian Price (1969), John Dawes (1971), Phil Bennett (1977, 1978), JPR Williams (1979), Bleddyn Bowen (1988), Michael Owen (2005).

There were 2 survivors from the 1953 victory over New Zealand – Bleddyn Williams and Courtenay Meredith.

There were 4 ex-Presidents at the dinner – Des Barnett (1986/87), Clive Rowlands (1989/90), Graham Tregidon (1992/93) and Sir Tasker Watkins (1993-2004).

There were 5 ex-Welsh coaches at the dinner – Clive Rowlands, John Lloyd, John Ryan, Dennis John and Alan Davies. Current Welsh coaches Mike Ruddock, Scott Joihnson and Clive Griffiths were joined by Wales team manager Alan Phillips.

There were 2 ex-Lions coaches – John Robins and John Dawes – and 1 ex-Lions manager – Clive Rowlands – at the dinner.

There were 6 ex-Secretaries of the WRU at the dinner – Dennis Gethin, Richard Jasinski, Edward Jonees, Denis Evans, David East and Ray Williams.

The most capped Welsh player of all-time was at the dinner – Gareth Llewellyn won 92 caps between 1989-2004.

The player with the most consecutive appearances for Wales – 53 by Gareth Edwards – was also be in attendance.

The 50 cap players in attendance were – 92 – Gareth Llewellyn (1989-2004); 72 – Ieuan Evans (1987-1998); 55 – JPR Williams (1969-1981); 54 – Martyn Williams (1996-*); 53 – Gareth Edwards (1967-1978).

There were more than 50 Lions in attendance including 4 Test players from 1950 – Bleddyn Williams, Jack Matthews, Malcolm Thomas and John Robins – and 3 from 1955 – Bryn Meredith, Courtenay Meredith and Russell Robins.

There were also 2 Lions tour captains in attendance – John Dawes (1971) and Phil Bennett (1977) – and two other playerts who have led the Lons in a test match – Bleddyn Williams (3 Tests in 1950) and David Watkins (2 Tests in 1966).

There were 20 players who turned to Rugby League – including all-time greats such David Watkins, Maurice Richards and Jonathan Davies – at the dinner.