October 14, 2011

Welsh rugby union greats – in pictures

Ahead of Wales's World Cup semi-final against France, we look back at some of the finest players to pull on the famous red jersey through a series of portraits by Tom Jackson

Welsh Rugby Greats: Gareth Thomas — Gareth Thomas Wales's most capped player and second-highest try scorer, he captained the Lions in two Tests. Thomas is perhaps as well known for coming out in 2009 as he is for his on field achievements. Photograph: Tom Jackson

Welsh Rugby Greats: Gareth Edwards — Gareth Edwards Edwards was Wales youngest captain aged just 20 and the scrum half is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. One of his most famous contributions was finishing a brilliant try for the Barbarians against the All Blacks in 1973 Photograph: Tom Jackson

Welsh Rugby Greats: John Dawes — John Dawes The centre captained his country to the grand slam in 1971 and followed that by leading the British and Irish Lions on their winning tour of New Zealand the same year. That remains the only time a Lions touring party has won a series against the All Blacks Photograph: Tom Jackson

Welsh Rugby Greats: Martyn Williams — Martyn Williams The flanker made a victorious return from retirement in 2008 as Wales won the grand slam. He had also been a vital member of the 2005 grand slam team and was awarded player of the tournament in that year Photograph: Tom Jackson

Welsh Rugby Greats: Mervyn Davies — Mervyn Davies The No8 won two grand slams and three triple crowns for Wales in the late 1960s and 1970s. He was also a pivotal member of both the victorious Lions squad in New Zealand in 1971 and the legendary unbeaten tour of South Africa in 1974 Photograph: Tom Jackson

Welsh Rugby Greats: J J Williams — JJ Williams Williams represented Wales on the track in the 1970 Commonwealth Games before concentrating on rugby and becoming one of the most feared wingers in the world. He famously scored two tries in each of the second and third Tests of the Lions' 1974 'invincible' tour of South Africa Photograph: Tom Jackson

Welsh Rugby Greats: Phil Bennett — Phil Bennett The hugely talented fly-half had some great moments in his career; he began the move for 'that try' for the Barbarians, scored a 50 yard try in the 1974 Lions series in South Africa and captained the Lions on their unsuccessful tour of New Zealand in 1977. He is regarded as one of the best No10s to have played the game Photograph: Tom Jackson

Welsh Rugby Greats: JPR Williams — JPR Williams The figure of Williams, with his impressive sideburns and socks around his ankles, has become the iconic image of the great 1970s Welsh side. In 10 Tests against England Williams was never on the losing side - another reason why he is so loved by the Welsh public Photograph: Tom Jackson

Welsh Rugby Greats: Ieuan Evans — Ieuan Evans Unlike the other Welsh legends in this gallery Evans was unfortunate to not play in any great teams. He can still be considered one of the greatest wingers of all time however, and was a member of the Lions tours in 1989, 1993 and 1997 - scoring four tries in the 1993 tour of New Zealand Photograph: Tom Jackson

Welsh Rugby Greats: Di Watkins — Dai Watkins Watkins played both rugby league and rugby union for Wales, and is the only man to captain both the British and Irish Lions and the Great Britain rugby league teams
Photograph: Tom Jackson Photograph: Action images

Leave a Comment Cancel comment