Ray Gravell

Ray Gravell

Gravell in action for the Lions in 1980
Full name	Raymond William Robert Gravell
Nickname	Grav
Date of birth	(1951-09-12)12 September 1951
Place of birth	Kidwelly, Wales
Date of death	31 October 2007(2007-10-31) (aged 56)
Place of death	Málaga, Spain
School	Burry Port Secondary Modern School Carmarthen Grammar School
Spouse	Mari Gravell
Children	Manon & Gwennan Gravell
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1970–1985 1975–1977 Llanelli RFC Barbarians 485 12 ( (4)) National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1975–1982 1980 Wales British Lions 23 4 ((4) (4))

Raymond William Robert "Ray" Gravell (12 September 1951 – 31 October 2007) was a Welsh rugby union centre who played club rugby for Llanelli RFC.

At international level, Gravell earned 23 caps for Wales and was selected for the 1980 British Lions tour to South Africa.

In his later career he would become a respected broadcaster and occasional actor. Gravell was also a member of the Gorsedd of Bards, an honour bestowed on him for his contribution to the Welsh language. At the Eisteddfodau Gravell was known by his bardic name Ray o'r Mynydd and was given the ceremonial role of Grand Sword Bearer.

Born in Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, the son of a collier, Gravell moved to Mynydd-y-Garreg at a young age with his family. Gravell was educated at Burry Port Secondary Modern School and Carmarthen Grammar School.

He first played for Llanelli RFC in 1970 and was a member of the team that beat a formidable touring All Blacks side in October 1972, eventually going on to captain the club for two seasons from 1980 to 1982. He made his first appearance for Wales against France in 1975 and played in two Grand Slam winning sides, usually as a centre but sometimes as a winger. Gravell was selected to play for the British and Irish Lions in their 1980 tour of South Africa; he came on as a substitute in the first test and was in the starting line up for the next three tests. In the second test at Bloemfontein, Gravell scored his second international try, though the tourists lost 26–19 to the South Africans.