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Welsh Celebrities & Personalities

Williams, J(ohn) P(eter) R(hys) (1949- )

Welsh rugby union player, one of the greatest full-backs in history. Always referred to as simply "J. P. R.", he was a marvellous defensive player, a fine kicker, and a fearless and fierce tackler. Williams was also a supreme attacking full-back and there was no finer sight than when he made one of his audacious counterattacks from deep in his own territory. He made his début for Wales in 1969 and won 55 international caps (then a Welsh record), plus eight caps for the British Lions with whom he toured South Africa in 1971 and 1974. He was a member of the Welsh teams that were dominant in the 1970s and which won the Triple Crown six times (1969, 1971, 1976-1979) and the Grand Slam three times (1971, 1976, 1978). Williams is also an excellent tennis player and won the Wimbledon lawn tennis junior championship in 1966. A much respected and popular man, he is now a consultant in trauma and orthopaedic surgery.