FIFTY GREATS – BUT WHO TOPS OUR LIST OF WALES HEROES?
WHO are the greatest Welsh rugby players of all time? It is a debate which will always divide opinion, with different people having their own favourites.
Well, we’ve donned our hard hats and come up with our top 50.
50. JACK MATTHEWS
The Cardiff centre was christened Iron Man by New Zealanders on the 1950 Lions tour.
So just how hard was he? Well, he drew with the legendary Rocky Marciano when they fought at RAF St Athan in 1943.
49. JOHN TAYLOR
With his wild hair and beard, this openside flanker was one of the most recognisable figures in Welsh rugby in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
He was also one of the most influential with his pace and link play.
48. KEN OWENS
Hooker Owens (circled, right) has been a tremendous servant of the Scarlets and Wales for more than a decade, winning 82 caps, while also figuring in five Lions Tests.
47. COLIN CHARVIS
Able to slot in across the back row, Charvis has scored more tries for Wales than any other forward – 22 during his 94 caps over some 11 years on the international stage. He also skippered his country 22 times.
46. TERRY COBNER
Hard as teak and a real thinker on the game. That was demonstrated when he effectively took over as forwards coach on the 1977 Lions tour of New Zealand, while starting three of the Tests on the blindside flank.
45. STEVE FENWICK
The Bridgend centre was very much the glue in the Welsh back-line during the second half of the golden 1970s. Made vital contributions at vital times, be it a kick at goal, a try, a big tackle or a telling pass.
44. DAVID BISHOP
You might question how a man who only won one cap makes this list, but Bishop was an immense figure in Welsh rugby in the 1980s.
An absolute force of nature, the Pontypool scrum-half was able to influence games like few others.
43. GEOFF WHEEL
An imposing and uncompromising second row who brought the steel to the Welsh boilerhouse during their extraordinary run of success in the late 1970s. A Swansea legend who was a near-constant factor in the Wales team for some seven seasons.
42. HAYDN TANNER
He was still a schoolboy in Gowerton when he helped Swansea famously beat the All Blacks in 1935, and would have won far more than 25 Wales caps but for the war years.
41. GARIN JENKINS
He figured in three World Cups and accumulated 58 caps along the way. One of the strongest scrummaging hookers the game has known, he was a combative figure who never took a backward step.
40. DELME THOMAS
Few Welshmen have been on as many as three Lions tours, but second-row Thomas did just that, playing in seven Tests. But perhaps his greatest hour came with his beloved Scarlets when he led them to victory over New Zealand in 1972.
39. NEIL JENKINS
Still the all-time top points scorer for Wales and his tally of 1,049 from 87 caps may never be beaten.
His metronomic goal-kicking was also crucial for the Lions, helping them to a series victory over the Springboks in 1997.
38. JONATHAN DAVIES
The Fox has shared in a succession of triumphs for Wales over the past decade, with his lines of running, jackhammer hand-off and defensive organisation so important in the centre.
He also started six successive Tests over two Lions tours.
37. DEREK QUINNELL
Nothing has ever summed up what it means to play for Wales better than Quinnell barging a policeman out of the way to make his long-awaited debut against France in 1972. He was to go on to be a powerful presence in the back five of the Welsh pack for a decade.
36. LEIGH HALFPENNY
Halfpenny (circled, right) repeatedly puts his body on the line in defence, while he has proved a consistent match-winner for both Wales and the Lions with a goal-kicking prowess based around years and years of dedicated practice.
35. GARETH THOMAS
The former postman delivered 40 tries during his 100 caps, as he moved back and fore between centre, wing and full-back.
Was to captain both his country and the Lions in inimitable style.
34. BRYN MEREDITH
One of the finest forwards of his generation, Meredith was a mobile hooker who won 34 caps for Wales between 1954 and 1962.
There were also eight Test starts for the Lions over three tours.
33. JAMIE ROBERTS
Such a physical presence in the centre, both as a carrier and the defensive captain. Arguably played his best rugby alongside Brian O’driscoll on the 2009 Lions tour, but he was a reliable go-to man for Wales for season after season.
32. DAVID WATKINS
Was only 25 when he went north in 1967, going on to achieve huge success in league. Had he stayed, it would have been fascinating to watch his battle with Barry John for the Wales No. 10 jersey.
Those who saw Watkins play will say he was among the very best.
31. GEORGE NORTH
Success came at an early age for North, who scored two tries on his international debut against South Africa aged just 18. He has gone on to touch down 43 times for his country in all, putting him second on the alltime list behind Shane Williams.
30. MIKE PHILLIPS
With the arrival of Warren Gatland, Phillips became Wales’ first-choice scrum-half and embarked on an absolute tour de force over the next six or seven years. So strong, so physical and such a dangerous runner. On top of 94 Wales caps, there were also five Lions Tests.
29. JUSTIN TIPURIC
It is often said Tipuric could have played in the backs such was his skill-set and pace.
Has been so effective in the wide channels with his handling ability and speed over the ground, providing classic openside support play. On top of that, he hardly ever misses a tackle. One of the most complete rugby players Wales has produced.
28. ALLAN BATEMAN
Nicknamed The Clamp for the vicelike defensive grip he applied, he was also a threat in attack with his outside break and ability to run perfect angles. Fellow centre and 1997 Lions team-mate Will Greenwood once said: “I learnt as much from Allan in four or five weeks as I had from any coach in the previous eight years.”
27. MARTYN WILLIAMS
The Nugget. What a golden gem he was for Wales during his 100-cap career. Just so consistent and such a fine all-round player who read the game so well, serving as the perfect link man at No. 7.
26. BOB NORSTER
Stood out like a beacon in the Wales team of the 1980s with his majestic work at the lineout.
Such an athlete, but also had the mental and physical resilience to hold firm against opponents who targeted him because they knew he could prove the difference between winning and losing.
25. ROB HOWLEY
Blessed with real top-end pace, he could rip defences apart with his running game, while he also brought tactical awareness and control at No. 9.
Earning 59 caps for Wales, he was skipper during the golden year of 1999 and a Lions Test starter in Australia in 2001.
24. JJ WILLIAMS
It was the speed of a former international athlete which set him apart. Combined with a deadly chip-and chase-tactic, it made him a lethal finisher.
23. CLIFF MORGAN
Made the Wales No. 10 jersey his own throughout the 1950s, expertly pulling the strings with his astute kicking out of hand.
Combined natural balance with searing acceleration when he took on defences.
22. SCOTT QUINNELL
Burst onto the international scene as he played a key part in Wales’ Five Nations title triumph of 1994, with his rampaging run to the line against France one of the highlights of that campaign.
21. JOHN DAWES
There have been few better passers of a rugby ball than the late, great John Dawes.
His distribution in the centre was just a joy to watch and it was like having a coach on the field, such was his immaculate reading of the game.
20. DAI MORRIS
Known as The Shadow because of his peerless support play, Morris (circled, right), a former miner from Rhigos was granite hard and rarely missed a beat in defence.
A selfless player, he regularly took a shoeing to protect his team-mates.
19. SAM WARBURTON
Playing in an era when the breakdown was more important than ever, Warburton was one of the very best in the world in that department.
There was immense defence and strong carrying he offered from either flank, while his rugby intelligence, clarity of thought and diplomacy made him an outstanding captain for both Wales and the Lions.
18. BOBBY WINDSOR
A steelworker by trade, The Duke was as fiery as the furnaces he used to tend and one of the great characters of Welsh rugby.
He was also a very fine hooker.
17. TAULUPE FALETAU
So consistent, so reliable and so classy. For much of the time it just seemed to be so easy for him. Injuries have taken their toll in recent years, but when fit and firing he is a man who can do the lot.
16. BLEDDYN WILLIAMS
Those who saw the Prince of Centres play during the 1950s will tell you his nickname perfectly encapsulates the grace he brought to the international arena with his surging runs, while he was also famously robust in the tackle.
15. IEUAN EVANS
Scored the winning try in a Lions series and built on that memorable moment Down Under to become Wales’ finest player of the early 1990s. An imperious finisher, he touched down a then-record 33 times during his 72 caps.
14. ADAM JONES
The Bomb was so important to Wales during his 11-year stint on the Test stage. He was the tighthead cornerstone of the scrum, the man who provided the rock-like foundation for three Grand Slam triumphs.
In addition to 95 Wales caps, there were also five Lions Tests over two tours.
13. TERRY HOLMES
Was handed the onerous task of stepping into the shoes of the legendary Gareth Edwards for both club and country, but Holmes (circled, right) proved more than up to the job.
Had the strength and physique to take on opposition back rows, being the prototype for the big, powerful scrum-halves which have appeared on the scene over the past 20 years.
12. SCOTT GIBBS
A warrior and a leader who lifted those around him and feared nothing, pin-balling his way through teams from the centre.
Man of the series for the Lions during their 1997 triumph in South Africa, while his greatest moment in a Wales jersey came two years later with that famous match-winning try against England at Wembley.
11. GETHIN JENKINS
Took the loosehead propping position into a new sphere with his extraordinary efforts around the field, notably over the ball and in defence.
He was also able to deliver the goods at scrum time when push came to shove.
Three Grand Slams, five Lions Tests and 129 caps for Wales.
10. JONATHAN DAVIES
A sensational talent in the late 1980s. Take these words from his former team-mate Phil Davies: “He was absolutely brilliant. Talented. He had great temperament, great skill level, fantastic acceleration and he wasn’t afraid of anything.” The shame is he was lost to union for six peak years.
9. MERVYN DAVIES
Started all eight Tests during Lions series victories in 1971 (New Zealand) and 1974 (South Africa), proving a key figure in both campaigns.
And, having led Wales to the 1976 Grand Slam, he would have been captain for the 1977 Lions tour of New Zealand had his career not been cut short.
His athleticism made him hugely effective in the loose and at the lineout.
8. GRAHAM PRICE
A magnificent prop forward who was decades ahead of his time.
All-powerful in the scrum, he was also incredibly fit and so mobile around the field, as he demonstrated with that 1975 debut try at the start of his international career in Paris.
Went on to start 12 successive Tests for the Lions over three tours, adding to his 41 Wales caps.
7. JPR WILLIAMS
Totally fearless. Barely ever missed a tackle, rarely dropped a high ball and revolutionised the full-back position from an attacking perspective by repeatedly coming into the line when it was unfashionable to do so.
Had a quite extraordinary record against England, winning 11 times out of 11 and scoring five tries.
6. SHANE WILLIAMS
Among a world of giants, this diminutive wing lit up the Test arena through a mixture of talent and tirelessly working on his game.
A player who could side-step you in the proverbial phone box, he is Wales’ record try scorer with 58 touchdowns.
The only Welshman to have been named World Player of the Year, a title he picked up in 2008.
5. GERALD DAVIES
From one great winger to another.
His ability to side-step at full pace set him apart and made him virtually impossible to pin down, while woe betide you if you showed him the outside.
A former centre, he helped revolutionise the wing position by venturing infield in search of the ball.
4. PHIL BENNETT
With his jagged side-step and blistering pace, Bennett was a nightmare to defend against, excelling on the hard grounds of South Africa for the invincible Lions of 1974.
Having set the greatest try of all in motion for the Barbarians in 1973, he went on to score what has been voted the best ever Wales touchdown, versus Scotland in 1977.
The man was a walking show-reel.
3. BARRY JOHN
Quite simply, The King.
A tactical maestro with his kicking game, he was poetry in motion with ball in hand, ghosting his way through opposition defences without a hand being laid on him, as he swerved his hips and weaved his magic.
2. ALUN WYN JONES
As the years have passed, so he has edged his way up this list.
A world record 161 Tests caps, including 12 successive outings for the Lions over four tours, along with three Grand Slams for Wales.
An inspirational figure and a second row of the very highest order.
1. GARETH EDWARDS
And here he is. Still out in front.
He scored extraordinary tries, bossed games with his kicking, developed one of the longest passes in the business and had the strength of a powerlifter and the pace of a sprinter.
He scored 20 tries during a remarkable unbroken run of 53 Wales caps over the course of a decade, while there were also 10 Tests for the Lions over three tours.
He remains the gold standard.