Otago Daily Times

Welsh rugby great dies

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LONDON: One of Wales and the British & Irish Lions’ greatestev­er wingers, JJ Williams, has died at the age of 72, his old club Bridgend Ravens said yesterday.

Williams was central to both teams’ success in the midtolate 1970s, helping Wales to Grand Slams in 1976 and 1978, and four Triple Crowns from 197679.

He scored 12 tries in 30 tests for Wales, but it was with the Lions where he perhaps left his greatest mark.

He bagged six tries against South West Districts on the Lions’ tour of South Africa in 1974, where he played a leading role as the tourists romped to a 30 series win, helped by his four test tries.

Williams’ score against New Zealand in 1977 was a fifth for the Lions, and puts him second only to Ireland’s Tony O’Reilly on the team’s alltime list.Williams was also a sprinter who represente­d Wales at the 1970 Commonweal­th Games in Edinburgh. — Reuters

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