A short tribute to JPR Williams
While we strive to bring you the best action from the present, one of our core goals is creating a rugby archive that encompasses all the great moments from the past as well. That includes looking back on legends of years gone by. On this occasion, that legend is JPR Williams.
A name synonymous with Welsh rugby of the 1970’s, JPR was a multi talented sportsman who achieved great things in tennis at a young age. Despite that success, he chose to instead continue his medical studies, while playing rugby, which was then as we know, strictly an amateur game.
Tennis’ loss was rugby’s gain as John Peter Rhys Williams thrilled fans in a career spanning over ten years. His trademark sideburns and cavalier style made him one of the most recognisable figures in sport.
Tough as nails, JPR had a habit of making crunching tackles on opponents who would normally have otherwise scored. Defensively sound, he was also an incredibly exciting runner with ball in hand.
In a twelve year period, JPR helped Wales to six Triple Crowns and three Grand Slams. He has an unbeaten record against England, and took part in British & Irish Lions’ wins over New Zealand and South Africa.
In total, with much less rugby played back then, he tallied up 55 caps for Wales and 8 for the British Lions. In a time when your day job put food on the table, Williams unfortunately had to rule himself out of the 1977 Lions tour so he could concentrate on upcoming surgeons exams.
This short clip shows us some fairly rare footage of JPR’s best bits of action on the rugby field. He’ll forever be remembered as a great of the game who played in, and contributed to a wonderful era of Welsh rugby.
Time: 02:50
Song: Bonzo Goes to Bitburg by The Ramones
A name synonymous with Welsh rugby of the 1970’s, JPR was a multi talented sportsman who achieved great things in tennis at a young age. Despite that success, he chose to instead continue his medical studies, while playing rugby, which was then as we know, strictly an amateur game.
Tennis’ loss was rugby’s gain as John Peter Rhys Williams thrilled fans in a career spanning over ten years. His trademark sideburns and cavalier style made him one of the most recognisable figures in sport.
Tough as nails, JPR had a habit of making crunching tackles on opponents who would normally have otherwise scored. Defensively sound, he was also an incredibly exciting runner with ball in hand.
In a twelve year period, JPR helped Wales to six Triple Crowns and three Grand Slams. He has an unbeaten record against England, and took part in British & Irish Lions’ wins over New Zealand and South Africa.
In total, with much less rugby played back then, he tallied up 55 caps for Wales and 8 for the British Lions. In a time when your day job put food on the table, Williams unfortunately had to rule himself out of the 1977 Lions tour so he could concentrate on upcoming surgeons exams.
This short clip shows us some fairly rare footage of JPR’s best bits of action on the rugby field. He’ll forever be remembered as a great of the game who played in, and contributed to a wonderful era of Welsh rugby.
Time: 02:50
Song: Bonzo Goes to Bitburg by The Ramones
Share | Tweet |
33 Comments:
Fuck me. That guy was awesome. Just imagine how good he'd be nowadays with modern conditioning and weights programs...
What a legend.
By Anonymous, at November 02, 2008 12:24 pm
What a player, Maxime Medard young french fullback has the same Hairstyle, same running and he is a futur talent for france for sure.
But jpr Williams what a legendary player !
By Anonymous, at November 02, 2008 12:45 pm
Ho yeah see the video of Medard on RD he run like Legend JPR Williams.
By Anonymous, at November 02, 2008 12:51 pm
What a player, and what a video; that's probably one of the best videos I've seen on RD for awhile.
Can anybody clear up which Offspring song that was?
And a grand clam is a very large mollusk? Probably very tasty.
-Dune
By Anonymous, at November 02, 2008 1:34 pm
great player so old fashion. give us the same on gareth edwards pleaseeeee!
By Anonymous, at November 02, 2008 1:56 pm
Nice to see this vid.
I see JPR around and about in Bridgend/Cowbridge quite a lot these days. Cool guy
By Anonymous, at November 02, 2008 1:58 pm
such an ironic thing.Wales played in big stadiums with a lot of people but they werent paid.what a great fullback.very good tackles one of them is like hernandez tackle on tuilagi.
By Anonymous, at November 02, 2008 2:34 pm
JPR is the man
By Anonymous, at November 02, 2008 4:01 pm
Great video!
Anonymous, I think it's a Ramones song... you have to be joking...
By Unknown, at November 02, 2008 4:09 pm
Great player shame none of the home nations have a player with half the talent at fullback. Could we get the same with Mike Gibson in his pomp please :)
By Anonymous, at November 02, 2008 7:19 pm
RD,
Thanks for the vid. Shows you what a total package the guy was.
As tough has Martin Johnson was in some of those Lions tour videos, I can't think of another dude crazy enough to be his own "cutman".
By Cheyanquí, at November 02, 2008 7:53 pm
one of the best if not the best.
By handson, at November 02, 2008 8:24 pm
The guy went off had 14 stitches came on and finished the game against the all backs(with no world cup)
By handson, at November 02, 2008 8:26 pm
who was better than JPR? To admit, my rugby "history" is rather young (1990s forward). I haven't seen anything to believe anyone else was clearly better than him.
I am not saying any of these guys were better, but perhaps worthy of a discussion of the greatest #15 over the past 20-25 years:
Serge Blanco
Christian Cullen
Percy Montgomery
Matt Burke
my personal favorite (not neces. the best) is André Joubert -- just loved his positional play in the back -- anticipating the ball kicked back to him.
By Cheyanquí, at November 02, 2008 8:37 pm
Its got to be the sideburns
By Anonymous, at November 02, 2008 8:48 pm
"99" !
By boomshanka, at November 02, 2008 9:31 pm
deek them hefty side burns
By Anonymous, at November 02, 2008 10:57 pm
The definition of a fullback is that man right there.
Awesome.
More clips like this would be appreciated pls? If not for u RD, I'd never have known about JPR Williams.
By Don, at November 03, 2008 1:34 am
Repost! Repost!
By Anonymous, at November 03, 2008 2:35 am
Account removed due to copyright issues with an ancient try by Ashley Cooper. So due to that we don't get to see a video of JPR.
Thanks again to MEDIAZONE, Maybe if those cunts used the rights properly in the first place people wouldn't have to upload superior quality videos breaching their copyright.
MEDIAZONE are killing rugby coverage online, cancel your accounts in protest. Typical fat greedy Americans ruining everything.
By Anonymous, at November 03, 2008 9:59 am
mediazone can't even perform the live coverage properly, the aspect ratio and bitrate of their live broadcasts are shit. im glad i cancelled my account.
check out the free live broadcasts on sopcast/myp2p and you can find all of the games they show in better quality and with the correct viewing dimensions.
By Anonymous, at November 03, 2008 10:11 am
He was just the definition of the 15...
Medard runs really recalls me JPR ones.Good to see him against argentina, pacific and aussies
By Flooz, at November 03, 2008 11:54 am
Best fullback ever.
By Anonymous, at November 03, 2008 11:57 am
The greatest of his time, and still an absolute legend.
one of the earliest examples of a fullback who just about had it all!!!
By Anonymous, at November 03, 2008 12:16 pm
That was awesome!
Keep these vids coming...Love the Ramones, too!
As a recently retired player, with 15 years of juggling a job, family, and rugby, I feel an affinity for guys like Williams...
Beautiful.
Uncle Hulka
By Anonymous, at November 03, 2008 4:24 pm
Love The Ramones, love Wales, what else can I ask for? Never heard of this Williams before, but he was awsome. The song is called "My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes To Bitburg)
By Anonymous, at November 03, 2008 5:55 pm
"Typical fat greedy Americans ruining everything."
Well, greedy is one thing, but FAT and AMERICAN?!?! Those asholes!!
I am pretty disappointed in how mediazone is ruining a lot of good clips on this site by making RD take them down or getting them taken off youtube.
I've never heard of these people before - how is it they have rights to so many rugby clips?
By Anonymous, at November 03, 2008 5:55 pm
"Typical fat greedy Americans ruining everything."
MEDIAZONE's parent company Naspers/MIH Group is based out of South Africa.
On that note I won't be watching games on MEDIAZONE any longer.
Great clip, love to get some more Lions and Barbarians vids.
By Anonymous, at November 03, 2008 8:01 pm
I heard a rumour that they had to stop JPR participating in full contact training because he kept on breaking people. Anyone else heard that?
By Anonymous, at November 04, 2008 2:34 pm
A rugby legend who happens to live two doors down from me. Really great guy too
By Anonymous, at November 04, 2008 5:59 pm
Must be the only international fullback to play as flanker in a test-match. What a legend!!!
By Anonymous, at November 06, 2008 2:47 pm
simply the best!
By Anonymous, at November 06, 2008 10:55 pm
best ever full back with lee byrne and serge blanco runners up
By Anonymous, at January 22, 2009 6:29 pm
Post a Comment
<< Home