J. P. R. Williams

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 teammate Gareth Edwards. He won the 1966 British Junior title at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, beating David Lloyd 6–4, 6–4; this is often erroneously cited as being a Junior Wimbledon victory, including in J.P.R.'s autobiography, when in fact it was won by Vladimir Korotkov. As an adult amateur, Williams participated in the first event of the tennis Open Era, the 1968 British Hard Court Championships in Bournemouth, but lost to Bob Howe in the first round. In an interview years later, Williams stated that "If I had to make the decision now, I might have opted for tennis," but admitted that his lack of a big serve would have hindered any chances of success. == Rugby career ==

Williams' focus moved from tennis to rugby union, which was an amateur sport, in order to pursue a career in medicine. Williams played club rugby for Bridgend, London Welsh and Tondu. 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 full-back – and was never on the losing side. He was also outstanding for the Lions, scoring an important long-range drop goal in the fourth test of the 1971 series against New Zealand. In the 1974 'invincible' series against South Africa he again played a major role. 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. Williams retired from international rugby union in 1981 and continued his career as an orthopaedic surgeon. Playing style At the times Williams played, the rugby rules restricted kicking to touch. This suited Williams as he did not naturally like kicking and would rather counter attack. For Wales this was helped by playing with very high-quality wingers, such as Gerald Davies and J. J. Williams. Welsh international rugby honours and statistics • First cap: 1 February 1969, Murrayfield, 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 ( 15 – Wales 6) (Source Williams was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1979 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at Thames Television's Teddington Studios. Williams was one of the inaugural inductees of the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 1997. Sean Fitzpatrick and Ian McGeechan have said Williams was the best rugby full-back of all time. == Medical career and other activities ==

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. Williams represented several cricket teams, particularly the Lord's Taverners team, between 1976 and 2004. 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. ==Personal life ==

Williams was married to Scilla and the couple had four children. They lived in the Vale of Glamorgan. Two of his children, Lauren Williams and Annie Williams both represented Wales at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in the field hockey tournament. ==Death==

Williams died from bacterial meningitis, after a short illness, on 8 January 2024, at the age of 74 at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. ==Views==

Williams regarded Barry John as "Without doubt, the greatest player I played with." In 2008 Williams said that if, when he was young, rugby and tennis had been in the conditions that they then were (in 2008) then he would have chosen to play tennis rather than rugby, because of the greater financial rewards of tennis and the increased physical dangers of rugby. ==References==