J. P. R. Williams facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
J. P. R. Williams
MBE FRCS

J. P. R. Williams in 2009
Birth name	John Peter Rhys Williams
Date of birth	(1949-03-02)2 March 1949
Place of birth	Bridgend, Wales
Date of death	8 January 2024(2024-01-08) (aged 74)
Place of death	Cardiff, Wales
School	Bridgend Boys' Grammar School, Millfield School
University	St Mary's Hospital Medical School
Spouse	Scilla Williams
Children	4
Occupation(s)	Surgeon
Rugby union career
Position(s) Full back Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 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 Team Apps (Points) 1969–1981 1971–1974 Wales British Lions 55 8 (36) (3)

John Peter Rhys Williams (born March 2, 1949 – died January 8, 2024) was a famous Welsh rugby union player. He played for Wales during their "Golden Era" in the 1970s. People knew him as J. P. R. Williams or just JPR. This nickname became popular after another player named J. J. Williams joined the Welsh team in 1973.

JPR played as a full back. He was known for his exciting and aggressive way of attacking. With his long sideburns and socks around his ankles, he was a memorable player. He was a key part of the legendary Welsh team of the 1970s. Even though he played full back for his country, he actually preferred playing as a flanker. He played in this position for Tondu at the end of his career.

Williams is one of only a few Welsh players to win three Grand Slams. A Grand Slam means winning every game in the Six Nations tournament. After retiring from rugby, he continued his career as an orthopaedic surgeon. He also stayed involved in rugby, becoming the president of the Bridgend Ravens club.

Early Life and Other Sports

John Peter Rhys Williams was born near Bridgend, Wales. He went to Bridgend Boys' Grammar School and then Millfield School. His Wales teammate Gareth Edwards also went to Millfield.

Before becoming a rugby star, Williams was a very good tennis player. He won the British Junior title in 1966. This happened at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon. He beat David Lloyd in the final. Some people, including JPR himself, mistakenly thought this was a Junior Wimbledon victory. However, it was a different tournament.

Rugby Career Highlights

Williams decided to focus on rugby union because it was an amateur sport. This allowed him to also study medicine and become a doctor. He quickly caught attention and played his first game for Wales in 1969, when he was just 19 years old.

He played 55 games for Wales, which are called "caps." He was captain in five of these games. He also played eight times for the British Lions, a team made up of players from the UK and Ireland.

JPR played club rugby for teams like Bridgend, London Welsh, and Tondu. He also played a few games for Natal in South Africa. This was after the 1974 Lions tour.

Williams had many great moments in his career. He was a vital player for Wales when they won Grand Slams in 1971, 1976, and 1978. He is especially remembered for his amazing record against England. In 10 matches against England, he scored five tries. This is very unusual for a full back. He also never lost a game to England.

He was also outstanding for the Lions. In 1971, he helped them win the series against New Zealand with a long-range drop-goal. He also played a big part in the 1974 'invincible' series against South Africa, where the Lions did not lose a single match.

Williams changed how the full back position was played. He was known for attacking from deep in his own half. He would often make daring jumps to catch high balls. He was also involved in the famous build-up to the greatest try ever scored.

In 1977, he chose not to go on the Lions tour to New Zealand. This was because his medical advisor told him to focus on his doctor's career. In the same year, he was given the MBE award for his services to rugby.

Williams was one of the first players to be inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 1997. He retired from international rugby in 1981. He continued his work as an orthopaedic surgeon. However, he kept playing club rugby for many more years. He played for Bridgend and then for Tondu Thirds until he was in his fifties. He finally stopped playing rugby in March 2003.

Life Outside Rugby

Besides rugby, Williams also played cricket for several teams. He played for the Lord's Taverners team between 1976 and 2004. He studied medicine at St Mary's Hospital Medical School. He became a doctor in 1973. In 1980, he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.

In 2006, JPR climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. He was part of a group of 16 Welsh people doing it for charity. They helped raise over £200,000 for a children's charity.

J. P. R. Williams passed away on January 8, 2024, at the age of 74. He died from bacterial meningitis in Cardiff.

Welsh Rugby Achievements

Here are some of J. P. R. Williams's achievements for Wales:

• First game: February 1, 1969, against Scotland at Murrayfield. Wales won 17-3.
• Out of his 55 games for Wales, he won 37, drew 4, and lost 14.
• He was part of three Grand Slam-winning teams: 1971, 1976, and 1978.
• He was also part of six Triple Crown-winning teams: 1969, 1971, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979. A Triple Crown means beating England, Ireland, and Scotland in the Six Nations.
• He scored a total of 36 points for Wales.
• He was captain of Wales five times, including during the 1978–79 Championship and Triple Crown season.
• Final game: February 7, 1981, against Scotland at Murrayfield. Scotland won 15-6.

See also

In Spanish: J. P. R. Williams para niños