The 50 hardest Welsh rugby players who ever lived
Rugby correspondent Simon Thomas counts down from 50 to one as he remembers the Welsh warriors who opposition players dreaded facing...
EVERY team had one, a warrior who played the game without fear, who looked his opponents in the eye and refused to take a backward step no matter what was unfolding in front of him.
Forged in steelworks, hewn from the coal-face, many of Welsh rugby’s hard men have always shown their mettle on and off the field.
Here, Simon Thomas recounts the stories of the fiercest characters the Welsh game has ever known.
How many of these iconic rugby names do you remember?
50. REX RICHARDS
Cross Keys
After winning his solitary Welsh cap against France in 1956, this colourful Cross Keys forward went on to become a death-defying stunt man in Hollywood and appeared in The Wild Women Of Wongo, voted one of the worst films ever made!
49. KEVIN MOSELEY
Pontypool & Newport
An abrasive, no-nonsense lock, the nine-times capped Moseley literally overstepped the mark against France in 1990 when he was sent off for stamping, an offence that earned him a 32-week ban. He coached in Cornwall after hanging up his boots.
48. COURTNEY MEREDITH
Neath
A teak-hard prop who was renowned for his brutally-powerful scrummaging, he formed an all-Welsh Lions Test front row, along with Billy Williams and Bryn Meredith, on the 1955 tour of South Africa – something that didn’t happen again until 2009.
47. CHRIS HUISH
Pontypool
Recognised as one of the finest players of his generation never to win a cap for Wales, the fearless flanker led the allconquering ‘Pooler pack from the front during the late 1980s. Not the biggest, but had a huge heart and consistently punched above his weight.
46. GETHIN JENKINS
Pontypridd & Cardiff Blues
Being hard means something different in these days of neutral touch judges and multiple TV cameras. It means being able to stand up to the huge physical demands of the modern game and prop Jenkins did just that, putting his body on the line time and time again.
45. HEMI TAYLOR
Newbridge & Cardiff
Raised in Waikato, the Kiwi back rower was brought over to Wales by Newbridge and went to win 24 caps for his adopted country. A daunting figure with ball in hand and a ferocious rucker, Hemi Takatou Taylor was not a man to take liberties with.
44. ARTHUR HUGHES
Newbridge
One of the most feared back-row forwards of his day in the late 1960s and early 1970s, this destructive openside flanker was known as “the Bearded Wonder”. Brother of Wales international Dennis, Arthur was one of the finest players never to win a cap.
43. STEELE LEWIS
Pontypridd
Has a rugby player ever been more appropriately christened? It was a case of Steele by name and steel by nature with the roofer from Gilfach Goch, who provided tungsten-like strength in the centre for Ponty during their glory days of the 1990s.
42. STAFF JONES
Pontypool
A man with a big appetite for the game, he allegedly once ate 27 roast potatoes after a match. Legend has it he once walked to training from Ynysybwl, making his way over four valley tops. An old-school prop, he played in three Tests on the 1983 Lions tour of New Zealand.
41. REES STEPHENS
Neath
As if working down the mine wasn’t demanding enough, he also spent a decade in the Welsh boiler-house, winning 32 caps at lock, where he was a granite-like presence. The son of past international Glyn Stephens, he went on the 1950 Lions tour of Australasia.
40. DAI MORRIS
Neath
One of the great unsung heroes of Wales’ golden era of rugby in the early 1970s, “the Shadow” was a rugged back-rower hewn out of Rhigos rock who did all the unglamorous donkey work. In 2002, he was voted into the all-time greatest Welsh XV at blindside flanker.
39. DENZIL EARLAND
Pontypridd
Apparently his car alarm was a picture of himself left on his dashboard to scare off would-be thieves! A fearsome flanker from Maerdy in the Rhondda, he was sent off inside the first five minutes of the start of a league rugby match and Ponty were reduced to just 13 men at Stradey Park.
38. JOHN DEVEREUX
South Glam Institute & Bridgend Where others wilted, strongman centre Devereux stood up to the mighty All Blacks in the 1987 World Cup, even though he was only 21. His piston
pump hand-off became his trademark and it served him well on his move to the hard man world of rugby league.
37. PAUL MORIARTY
Swansea
A tough, aggressive back-rower who won 21 caps for Wales, scoring a try in the Triple Crown-clinching victory over Ireland in 1988. Went on to prop for Halifax and Widnes in league before returning to union as a player and then as a straight-talking coach.
36. SCOTT QUINNELL
Llanelli & Richmond
Yet another man who made the switch to league, but it was in the 15-man code that he had his greatest days as a ball-carrying No 8 totem. Wales built their pack around him on his return to union and the way he put his body through the mincer for his country spoke volumes.
35. RICHARD MORIARTY
Swansea
The elder brother of Paul provoked the question which sibling was the harder. Let’s just defer to seniority on that one! Richard’s huge frame was employed at lock and in the back row, while he capped his career by skippering Wales to third place at the 1987 World Cup.
34. NIGEL BEZANI
Pontypridd
The leader of the “Valley Commandos”, Baz was an uncompromising prop who didn’t stand on ceremony on the pitch and was a real character off it with his love of motorcycling. Captained Ponty to Welsh Cup glory in 1996 and will always be a hero at Sardis Road.
33. RANDALL DAVIES
Neath
For Pontypool in the 1970s, read Neath in the 1960s. The Welsh All Blacks boasted a much-feared pack during that swinging decade of swinging punches, and blindside flanker Davies was a key component of that terror eight of the mid-1960s down at the Gnoll.
32. JIM SCARLETT
Pontypridd
Resembled a pirate with his long, flowing locks and was made to walk the plank on more than one occasion by referees who took exception to his skullduggery – or should that be skull and crossbones-duggery. The face of the notorious Ponty pack of the early 1990s.
31. OMRI JONES
Aberavon
Fly-halves around Wales used to regularly go down with mystery complaints in the week of an Aberavon game. Such was the trepidation openside flanker Jones used to instill in No 10s during the 1960s. Nicknamed “Om the Bomb”, he was the stuff of nightmares.
30. HAYDN MAINWARING
Swansea
Playing for the Baa-Baas against South Africa at Cardiff in 1961, the full-back was all that stood between the charging Avril Malan and the line. But he stopped the big ‘Bok with a mighty shoulder charge that was “like a comet burying itself into earth”, according to one report.
29. PHIL PUGH
Neath
This blond bombshell flanker was a hardcase in a hard pack, acting as a back row enforcer in the threshingmachine Neath forward unit of the late 1980s and early 1990s. After impressing in the tour match at the Gnoll, he was called up to win his one cap against the All Blacks in 1989.
28. CLIVE BURGESS
Ebbw Vale
Nicknamed “the Steel Claw” for his legendary mauling ability, this rugged flanker didn’t start playing rugby until leaving the Merchant Navy at 20, but made up for lost time, starring in the 1977 Triple Crown campaign and being named Wales player of the year in 1981.
27. TERRY HOLMES
Cardiff
Replacing the greatest rugby player of all time was no easy task, but the powerful No 9 did so with aplomb for club and country as he took over from the retired Gareth Edwards. A real force of nature who was like an extra back row forward with his immense strength.
26. CHRIS JONES
Treorchy
The only player in Welsh rugby history to be banned for life – twice! A firebrand on the pitch, the ex-hooker has been a changed man for years. A bornagain Christian, he’s done fantastic work for charity and as a junior coach in the Rhondda.
25. JOHN HICKEY
Cardiff
Responsible for some real fireworks on Guy Fawkes night in 1966 when he left his mark on great Wallaby scrum-half Ken Catchpole in Cardiff’s famous victory over Australia. An aggressive blindside flanker who never took a backward step. He became a landlord.
24. RAY PROSSER
Pontypool
Remembered more for nurturing the great ‘Pooler side of the 1970s and 1980s, Pross had been a player of distinction, winning 22 caps for Wales at prop and touring New Zealand with the Lions in 1959 – a trip that was to hugely influence his revolutionary coaching blueprint.
23. IAN ROBINSON
Cardiff
No less a judge than Bobby Windsor says this 1970s lock could put it about with the best. He recalls how Robbo once felled him with a blow to the solar plexus, then, after the match, said: “I’m awfully sorry about that, Bob, I couldn’t help it.” A terror on the field, but a gent off it.
22. MARK PEREGO
Llanelli
A real one-off, the ultra-fit flanker was Welsh rugby’s answer to Rambo, with his training routine which involved running through mountain rivers, stripped to the waist carrying an axe, which he would use to round off the session with a spot of wood-chopping!
21. DEL HAINES
Newport
A cult figure at Rodney Parade in the 1960s and 1970s, Haines was a destructive and fearsome force throughout the club rugby scene, wreaking havoc from his position on the Black & Amber blindside flank, having started out as a hard-tackling centre at Cross Keys.
20. JEFF SQUIRE
Pontypool
One of Wales’ greatest Lions forwards, having gone on three successive tours – 1977, 1980 and 1983 – winning six Test caps as he stood up to the All Blacks and the ‘Boks. Provided the back row ballast and a massive worker in the tight who was hugely appreciated by his colleagues.
19. DAI YOUNG
Swansea & Cardiff
A rock in the scrum, this Aberdare anvil was a prop of teak-hard qualities, as his nickname “the Enforcer” testified. After becoming a Test Lion at 21, he spent six years in the no-prisoners world of league, ahead of a second notable union career as player and coach.
18. DALE MCINTOSH
Pontypridd
Born and raised in New Zealand, but one of Wales’ favourite adopted sons and a legend at Sardis Road. Known throughout the game as “the Chief ”, he was a real warrior, famous for his part in the “Battle of Brive” and that tackle on Bath’s Andy Robinson.
17. GRAHAM PRICE
Pontypool
West country wag Gareth Chilcott tells a great joke about his fellow prop: “That bloke Price was a real hard nut. When he dies, his gravestone will read, ‘What you looking at?.’” One of the world’s greatest tight-heads, Price won a remarkable 12 Test caps for the Lions.
16. NORMAN GALE
Llanelli
Another product of heavy industry, this rugged hooker worked as a fitter for British Steel and then as landlord of the White Horse Inn in Llanelli before retirement. A regular in the Wales team during the 1960s, he captained his country as well as his beloved Scarlets.
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Llanelli
One of the most-loved figures in Welsh rugby and a real gentlemen off the pitch. But he left his mark on plenty of opponents out on the park with his crash-ball carrying and his bone-shaking tackling in the centre. Wore his heart on his sleeve and won all our hearts.
Pontypool
A judo black belt and a steelworker by trade, factors which combined to make our Charlie a formidable scrummager. Immortalised in song by Max Boyce through his role as part of the legendary Pontypool front row, whose motto was: “We may go down, we may go up, but we never go back.”
Neath & Ebbw Vale
This rough-and-ready No 8 played his rugby on the edge and sometimes beyond it, as Ian Gough learned to his cost one night at Eugene Cross Park, while Jones’ punch-up with bear-like prop Stuart Evans at the same ground is the stuff of legend.
Pontypool & Swansea
One of the last miners to play for Wales, he grafted away at the rugby coal-face for over a decade, establishing a reputation as a mighty scrummaging hooker. Served a fair few bans in his wild early days and was sent off against South Africa in 1995, but a great servant.
Swansea
A large uncompromising lock, he had a noticeable twitch which only made him more intimidating. He and Willie Duggan of Ireland became the first players to be sent off in a Five Nations match after exchanging blows in 1977. Known as “Gaffer”, he played the organ in his local church.
Pontypool
Not the tallest second row, but he made up for lack of inches with his attitude and intimidatory presence. Opponents used to be beaten before they went out on the field, with one look from Perky in the tunnel telling them all they needed to know about what was in store for them.
Ebbw Vale & Llanelli
The flanker’s sending-off against England at Twickers in 1980 was an iconic moment in the history of Welsh rugby. It led to the “Ringer is innocent” campaign and is cited by many as the moment when Welsh rugby lost its hard edge in the public bid to clean up its act.
Neath
An accident on his farm – when a nine-inch angle grinder almost severed his left wrist – should have ended his propping career. But he returned as fit as ever. “No other man could have come back to play after an injury like that,” said Kevin Phillips, his club colleague.
Pontypool
A real tough cookie and a man not to be messed with. He earned huge respect from the All Blacks during the 1977 Lions tour, when he effectively acted as forwards coach while packing down on the flank. He captained ‘Pooler for 10 consecutive seasons from 1970-79.
Neath
Dubbed the “Ayatollah” during his bearded days as Neath’s innovative and outspoken supremo, Thomas had been a fearsome opponent during his playing days. Acted as Brian Price’s minder in the Wales second row in the 1960s when he led Neath by unyielding example.
Cardiff
The centre was dubbed the “Iron Man” by the Kiwis after the 1950 Lions tour of New Zealand. Rocky Marciano ended his boxing career having won every one of his pro fights – but Dr Jack held him to a draw when they met in an amateur bout in 1943. Enough said.
Pontypool
Not even a broken neck could stop the Bish. Despite being told he would never play again, he was back at scrum-half for ‘Pooler within a year. His aggression got this anti-establishment figure in trouble at times, but what a player. And to think he only earned one cap.
Neath & Swansea
No soft centre here. One of the most destructive tacklers to pull on a Welsh jersey, he was also a wrecking ball in attack. His thundering run that smashed South African prop Os du Randt to the deck in Durban in 1997 will forever be part of Lions folklore.
London Welsh & Bridgend
Not many backs would run 50 yards to join in a forwards dust-up, as JPR did with the Lions in South Africa in 1974, but he was no ordinary back. His clenched-fist salute following his trysaving hit on France’s Gourdon in the 1976 Grand Slam game said it all.
Pontypool
Who else? A steelworker by trade, “the Duke” was as fiery as the furnaces he used to tend. The commander of the Viet Gwent, he was a larger-than-life figure who used to dispense summary justice with a grin and a quip, but could walk the walk as well as talk the talk. A central figure as hooker in the invincible Lions pack on the tour of South Africa in 1974, when the Springboks forwards had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the scrums such was the battering they were taking in the tight from Bobby and co. One of the great characters in the game, with an endless supply of stories, as his autobiography The Iron Duke confirms.