Williams
J. P. R. Williams was one of the finest fullbacks to ever play the game.
J. P. R. Williams Bio
J. P. R. Williams is one of the finest Welsh rugby players of all time. A formidable fullback, he was a standout player for Wales when the country enjoyed a golden era in the 1970s. Known for his aggressive style and long sideburns, he’s still considered a rugby icon. J. P. R. Williams was inducted into the RugbyPass Hall of Fame in 2021.
Before he committed to rugby, J. P. R. Williams was also a talented tennis player. However, he ultimately chose to play rugby because the sport’s amateur status allowed him to also pursue a career in medicine. That said, during his domestic career, he still represented a number of Europe’s top sides, including Bridgend, London Welsh and the Barbarians.
In addition to this, in spite of pursuing a career in medicine alongside his rugby career, J. P. R. Williams quickly gained national attention and he earned his first call-up for Wales at the age of 19. Between 1969 and 1981, he was capped an impressive 55 times, including five as captain. During this period, he played in three Grand Slam-winning sides and held an impressive record against England. In his 10 games against England, he scored five tries and was never on the losing side.
Thanks to his impressive performances for Wales, J. P. R. Williams was also capped by the British and Irish Lions eight times between 1971 and 1974. He won the 1971 series against New Zealand with a drop goal and in the 1974 ‘invincible’ series against the Springboks, he was an irresistible force. Sadly, he turned down an invite to tour with the team again in 1977 because he needed to focus on his medical career.
In 1981, J. P. R. Williams retired from international rugby in order to continue his career as an orthopaedic surgeon. However, he continued to play club rugby for many years and even represented Tondu into his 50s. He finally retired in 2003.
