J. P. R. Williams

J. P. R. Williams

File:JPR Williams crop.jpg
J. P. R. Williams
Full name	John Peter Rhys Williams
Date of birth	(1949-03-02) 2 March 1949
Place of birth	Bridgend, Wales
School	Brynteg Comprehensive School
University	St Mary's Hospital, London
Occupation(s)	Surgeon
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Fullback
Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team
1967–1968 1967–1968 1968–1976 1969–1977 1974 1976-1990s 1990s–2003	Bridgend St. Mary's Hospital London Welsh Barbarians Natal Bridgend Tondu
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1969–1981 1971–1974	Wales British Lions	55 8	(36) (3)

John Peter Rhys Williams MBE FRCS (born 2 March 1949) is a former rugby union footballer who represented Wales in international rugby during their Golden Era in the 1970s. He was known universally as J. P. R. Williams (or sometimes just as JPR, to distinguish him from teammate J. J. Williams, also John). Playing in the position of fullback, he was noted for his aggressive attacking style. With his long sideburns and socks around his ankles, "JPR" was an iconic figure on the legendary 1970s Wales team.

He is one of a small group of Welsh players to have won three Grand Slams including Ryan Jones, Adam Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Gareth Edwards and Gerald Davies.

An orthopaedic surgeon by profession, Williams has continued to be involved in rugby since retirement, currently serving as President of the Bridgend Ravens.

Early life

Williams was born just outside Bridgend, Wales, and was educated at Bridgend Boys Grammar School (now Brynteg Comprehensive School) and then Millfield School in Somerset, as was his Wales team mate Gareth Edwards. As well as being a rugby player, Williams was in his youth a talented tennis player; in 1968 he played one of the first matches in the Open era (tennis), at the Hard Court Championships of Great Britain. There is a popular urban myth that he won Junior Wimbledon in 1966 (in fact it was won by a Soviet, Vladimir Korotkov). However, he did win a British Junior competition that was held that same year at the Wimbledon venue, the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, beating David Lloyd.

Williams replaced tennis for rugby union, which was an amateur sport, in order to pursue a career in medicine. He quickly attracted attention and was consequently first capped by Wales in 1969, aged 19. He went on to earn 55 caps for Wales, five as captain and eight for the British Lions. He played club rugby for Bridgend and London Welsh. He also played a few games for Natal shortly after the 1974 Lions tour.

Rugby career

Williams had many high points in his career, being a key player in a Welsh side that won Grand Slams in 1971, 1976, and 1978, and is particularly remembered for his record against England. In 10 tests between Wales and England he scored five tries – exceptional for a fullback – and was never on the losing side. He was also outstanding for the Lions, winning the 1971 series against New Zealand with a long-range drop-goal and playing a major role in the 1974 'invincible' series against South Africa.

Williams chose not to go on the 1977 British Lions tour to New Zealand, after being advised by his consultant to focus on his medical career. In the same year he was awarded the MBE for services to Rugby.

Williams retired from international rugby union in 1981 and continued his career as an orthopaedic surgeon. However, he continued to play club rugby for many years, playing throughout the 1980s and 1990s for Bridgend and then for Tondu Thirds into his fifties. He finally retired in March 2003.

Williams was one of the inaugural inductees of the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 1997.

He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1979 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at Thames Television's Teddington Studios.

Retirement

In January 2006, in a party of 16 Welsh men and women, he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania for charity, helping to raise more than £200,000 for the NSPCC's 'Full Stop' Campaign.

Williams studied medicine at St Mary's Hospital Medical School, qualifying as a physician in 1973. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1980. In 2012 was chosen by Move Sports to be the ambassador of the 2012 Portugal Rugby Festival.

In 2010, Williams pleaded guilty to a drink-driving charge; he was convicted and banned from driving for seventeen months.

Welsh honours and statistics

• First cap: 1 February 1969, Murrayfield, Scotland (Scotland 3 – Wales 17)
• His fifty-five caps comprised 37 wins, four draws, and 14 defeats
• Member of three Grand Slam-winning teams: 1971, 1976, 1978.
• Member of six Triple Crown-winning teams: 1969, 1971, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
• Scored 36 points (five four-point tries and one three-point try; three penalty goals and two conversions)
• Captained Wales five times (1978–79 – Championship and Triple Crown Season)
• Final cap: 7 February 1981, Murrayfield, Scotland (Scotland 15 – Wales 6)

(Source)

External links

• Profile at The International Rugby Hall of Fame
• Profile at ESPN Scrum
• 100 Welsh Heroes: #24 J.P.R. Williams
• Small talk: J.P.R. Williams, Paul Doyle, The Guardian, 6 October 2006
• J.P.R. Williams, full back, BBC News, 18 March 2005
• Gavin Henson interview: J.P.R. Williams, The Observer, 6 November 2005
• J P R Williams' appearance on This Is Your Life