J.J. Williams
Encyclopedia
John James Williams known universally as J.J. Williams, is a former Welsh rugby union
player who gained thirty caps for Wales
as a winger.
Educated at Maesteg Grammar School, Williams was an outstanding track athlete, representing Wales in the Commonwealth Games
in Edinburgh
in 1970 and becoming Welsh sprint champion in 1971. He initially played for Bridgend, joining Llanelli RFC
in 1972, and gaining his first international cap in 1973. He was rated as one of the fastest wingers in the game, and scored 12 tries in 30 appearances for Wales. He went on two British and Irish Lions
tours, playing in all four tests in South Africa in 1974 and in three tests in New Zealand in 1977. He played a major role in the 1974
'invincible' series against South Africa
, scoring two tries in each of the second and third tests and earning the title "The Welsh Whippet".
Williams now runs J.J. Williams Painting Services Ltd, a commercial and industrial painters based in Pyle, near Bridgend
. He also fronted a consortium which offered to take over the Millennium Stadium
in Cardiff. All three of his children have represented Wales at Track and Field events. His son Rhys
is the current Welsh track record holder in the 400 metres hurdles (49.09).
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player who gained thirty caps for Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
as a winger.
Educated at Maesteg Grammar School, Williams was an outstanding track athlete, representing Wales in the Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in 1970 and becoming Welsh sprint champion in 1971. He initially played for Bridgend, joining Llanelli RFC
Llanelli RFC
Llanelli Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club founded in 1875 and its senior team is one of the leading club sides in Wales. The club began the 2008-09 season at their historic home ground of Stradey Park in Llanelli, but moved in November 2008 to the new Parc y Scarlets in adjacent...
in 1972, and gaining his first international cap in 1973. He was rated as one of the fastest wingers in the game, and scored 12 tries in 30 appearances for Wales. He went on two British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
tours, playing in all four tests in South Africa in 1974 and in three tests in New Zealand in 1977. He played a major role in the 1974
1974 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1974 the British Lions toured South Africa, with matches in South West Africa and Rhodesia . The tour was a great success, the Lions winning 21 of their 22 matches and drawing the other. After winning the first three test matches, the Lions drew the final test to preserve their unbeaten record...
'invincible' series against South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
, scoring two tries in each of the second and third tests and earning the title "The Welsh Whippet".
Williams now runs J.J. Williams Painting Services Ltd, a commercial and industrial painters based in Pyle, near Bridgend
Bridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
. He also fronted a consortium which offered to take over the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
in Cardiff. All three of his children have represented Wales at Track and Field events. His son Rhys
Rhys Williams (athlete)
Rhys Williams , is a Welsh professional athlete, specializing in the 400 m hurdles.-Early life:Williams was born in Bridgend, the son of former Welsh international rugby union player J.J. Williams. Rhys studied at Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari from September 1995 until June 2002...
is the current Welsh track record holder in the 400 metres hurdles (49.09).
External links
- JJ Williams, left wing, BBC.co.uk