JPR Williams has died

[ClaretTony]

I’m not a rugby fan but JPR was a real icon of Welsh rugby I’m sure. He was just 74.

[ALP]

The newsflash just popped up on my phone, I'm flabbergasted at this news, a truly remarkable rugby player. So sad, may he rest in peace and sincere condolences to his family and friends.

[CleggHall]

Medical doctor in London too.

[Buxtonclaret]

Sad news, following in from Franz.

R.I.P JPR

[Boss Hogg]

An outstanding player and as the OP states an icon for the Welsh. Love the old footage with him on.

[ClaretTony]

An outstanding player and as the OP states an icon for the Welsh. Love the old footage with him on.

The name stands out to me probably because of the JPR and I recall him being one of the top players in an outstanding Welsh team.

[Tricky Trevor]

RIP JPR. A true great.
A man that filled his life. Junior Wimbledon Champion, 55 caps and 3x 5Nations, two winning British Lions tours and then doctoring.

[Lip]

R.I.P. JPR Williams a great rugby player

[Pearcey]

First of the modern full backs. Brilliant player. RIP.

[Taffy on the wing]

Blimey........what a rotten day! RIP.
That's the era in Rugby i still think about....free flowing & hardly any stopping of play. I remember they would stand on the side-lines at half time
sucking on Oranges. That Welsh team was one for the ages.

[Clarets4me]

I met him a couple of times in Reading when I was at University there. He was working as a Surgeon at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, great company and loved the game so much that he played on for his local Clubs lower XV's, when he returned to South Wales into his early 50's ..

Not many British Rugby players toured New Zealand & South Africa in that time and came back having played 8 Tests, with a record of W5, D2, L1 ... absolutely tough as teak, and loved the " crack " as well .. Godspeed and Goodnight JPR ... RIP, Sir !!

[IanMcL]

I also met JPR. This time in Battle Hospital Reading! I had been kno ked off my motorbike and had a broken leg. Canymt remember whether it was when I broke it Sept 75 or when I had a bone graft in Feb 76. He was on the rounds each time, with the consultant. May have been a Registrar by then.

[durhamclaret]

Medical doctor in London too.

And went on to become a consultant orthopaedic surgeon in Wales.

[elwaclaret]

Not a rugby fan but I remember thinking as a boy watching Grandstand; “well that is England beaten JPR Williams is playing on the wing”. He seemed unstoppable at the time.

RIP JPR made a big impression on a young kid who was not particularly into Rugby. Another legend of my childhood gone.

[ecc]

Not a rugby fan but don't need to be to know how great he was.

Gareth Edwards, Barry John, J.J. Williams.

[mdd2]

Medical doctor in London too.

JPR became an orthopaedic surgeon (I think in London). this is a quote from his book
"I used to say that I spent half my life breaking bones on the rugby field, then the other half putting them back together in the operating theatre".
Very sad news this more so as his death is reported to have been from meningitis.
I worked in Cardiff from 71-73 and JPR became just that when JJ Williams joined the elite in about 1972.
Naturally RU was not my sport but the locals raved about JPR and that all conquering Welsh
National side and who can forget his blood soaked cheek from that horrific deep cut on his
face. Not sure if that was why those sideburns remained when long out of fashion.
And that Great Barbars match against the All Blacks at the National Stadium of Wales in 73.
If any claret has not see that game which features a try by JPR just google it on You Tube.
RIP JPR

[MrTopTier]

Not a rugby fan but don't need to be to know how great he was.

Gareth Edwards, Barry John, J.J. Williams.

Me neither but have been told a great many tales by an Old Welsh friend of mine and seen the old footage. Think there was a documentary on Sky about the Lions tour to South Africa and as well as playing Rugby how it should be played, they could look after themselves too. Those sideburns as well. Legendary.

[LeadBelly]

I was at uni in Cardiff 1968-72 and whilst footy was my game, I played a few friendly ( ) games of RU and couldnt help but get enthused about the game and the excellence of the Welsh team at the time (tough being English sometimes though).

Wales had such a good team in that era and their players contributed strongly to that 1971 Lions tour- none more so than JPR who got a drop goal to take the score from 11-11 to 14-11 in the last test (final score 14-14 where a NZ win would've tied the series).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Wf3kLm ... nel=CS4383

RIP JPR, leaving behind many great memories for many people.