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An era is dying but an aura lives on!
In modern rugby, centres of excellence have become synonymous with academies set up by the top echelons of regional rugby to identify and nurture future stars but to many of us in the old rugby brigade, when asked about centres of excellence, we immediately think of the likes of the three magnificent players pictured namely John Dawes, London Welsh, Wales and Baa-Baas, Bleddyn Williams (Cardiff, Wales and Baa-Baas, sadly recently passed away), and Dr. Jack Mathews, (Cardiff, Wales and British Lions.)
John Dawes, of course, captained Wales to Grand Slam success to spark the Golden Era of the 70s, a much underrated player with great hands, keen eye, astute mind and perfect timing. He led the Lions to victory in New Zealand in 1971 and played a part in the great Gareth Edwards try for the Baa-Baas versus New Zealand in 1973. Bleddyn, the Prince of Centres, scored nearly two hundred top class tries and led his club and country to victory over the All Blacks in 1953 - the last time Wales have beaten the Blacks!
Remarkable year for great characters
A remarkable year 1953 as Queen Elizabeth took the throne, Hillary and Tensing conquered Everest (not the double glazing!), Wales beat the All Blacks and I was born. Dr. Jack played wing or centre alongside Bleddyn for Cardiff and Wales, a pocket dynamo who fought Rocky Marciano when he was stationed at St.Athan during the War before Marciano became World Heavyweight Champion!
What all three have in common is that they were not only exceptional rugby players but they were all great gentlemen in the true meaning of the word, fantastic ambassadors for the game. The esteem they are held in not only in rugby circles but in World sport can be measured by the fact that at a function I attended last year, former dual Welsh rugby International Alan Bateman stood up and commented how humble he felt in their presence. That really speaks volumes for the respect in which these real characters are held and Bleddyn and Jack had to fight a War in between their rugby commitments in a truly amateur era.
Family ties
At my uncle Dennis Griffiths’ funeral I met Alan Morgan of Neyland and he recalled that my father George and uncle David were also really talented players who had attracted interest from rugby league clubs just after the War. In 1948 or was it 1952, my dad played for Pembrokeshire against Wales at Tenby and impressed Bleddyn with his tackling and like a lot of rugby folk at the time a mutual respect and friendship developed. Some twenty years later my dad and I met Bleddyn at Cardiff before an International and he took us into the members’ bar at Cardiff Arms Park and introduced us to some true greats of the game, including his good friend and team mate for Cardiff and Wales, Gareth Griffiths another hero of 1953, after whom I was named.
Well looked after by Bleddyn
Years later I took my wife Karen and sons to Cardiff to watch Wales and on several occasions we met Bleddyn and he always enquired about my father, gave us a warm welcome and escorted us into the Athletic club where we met some real icons of the rugby world, television fame and other sports like Colin Meads and Brian Lachore, New Zealand, the cast of Neighbours and Precious Mackenzie, the Welsh Olympic weightlifter.
I also remember watching my Uncle David play, a classy outside half, and the highlight for me was watching him play for Western Counties against the touring Canadians at Stradey in 1962. Pembrokeshire was well represented that day with Tony Kiff (Llangwm) at full back, Brian ‘Mogs’ Morgan (Whitland) at lock and Gwyn Robbins (Tenby) in the back row, as the irrepressible Viv Hay (Quins) ran the line.
Wonderful friendships
Through rugby some wonderful friendships have been made and I am glad I played when I did rather than the regimented, ultra-critical, rather impersonal game of today that has been influenced by professionalism and money . It is great to meet up with great players of the past, where there was that brotherhood about rugby and it is surprising what a small world it is when you start mentioning names. For example, there is a strong Pembrokeshire connection between my new club Llantwit Major through the people stationed at R.A.F. St.Athan in the past. I was fortunate to play alongside some good centres and real characters at Milford, especially Hughie Williams, John Greggain, Peter ‘Noddy’ Norman and Ian ‘Mush’ Morris. John Greggain was a strong tackler and explosive runner, devastating on the break and I will never forget partnering him for Pembrokeshire against Llanelli at Neyland when we marked Roy Bergiers and Ray Gravell, fresh from their Lions tour.
Welsh Cup memories
Noddy and I only have to see each other and say ‘Ebbw Vale’ to instantly bring back a flood of great memories of Milford’s great match with them in the Welsh Cup where we became the first small club to reach the quarter-finals..I dont get the feeling that today’s players enjoy this camaraderie, especially with the opposition. Last year I had a wonderful day at Whitland, who were always tough, uncompromising opponents yet great blokes to play alongside for the County and over a pint or two discovered there was a deep rooted respect and friendships that will last forever. Whoever let County rugby fade away has done rugby a great disservice and even the Welsh Cup has been shorn of its International contingent, meaning never-has-beens like me will never get the chance to pit themselves against their heroes in the future.
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