JPR Williams
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| J. P. R. Williams | |||
| Full name | John Peter Rhys Williams | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 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 became known universally as J. P. R. Williams (or sometimes just as JPR) after 1973 when J. J. Williams (also John) joined the Welsh team.
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.
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. The myth appears in his autobiography "So by the time of Junior Wimbledon in 1966....it began to sink in that I was the 1966 Junior Wimbledon Champion"
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