John Peter Rhys (JPR) Williams has passed away at the age of 74.
Renowned for his time with London Welsh, Bridgend, and the Barbarians, Williams was a key figure in Welsh rugby successes of the 1970s. He captained Wales and Bridgend, earning 55 caps for his country, and played a pivotal role in the British & Irish Lions’ historic tours to New Zealand in 1971 and South Africa in 1974.
Williams passed away peacefully at the University Hospital of Wales after a short battle with bacterial meningitis. Remembered for tenacity and skill on the field, he was part of three Five Nations Grand Slams in 1971, 1976, and 1978, and continued playing rugby occasionally until his final retirement in 2003.
His death was announced by Bridgend Ravens, where he served as club president. Tributes poured in from various figures in the rugby world, including former Wales captain Jonathan Davies, who described him as an ‘absolute legend’ and ‘the most competitive bloke’ he had ever come across.
The Lions hailed Williams as ‘one of the greatest ever’ to wear the shirt.
London Welsh, where Williams played for eight years, mourned his passing as a ‘huge loss.’
Former teammate John Taylor highlighted Williams’ revolutionary approach to playing full-back, describing him as ‘the original attacking full-back.’
World Rugby recognised him as ‘one of the greatest players the game has ever seen.’
After retiring from rugby, Williams focused on his career as an orthopedic surgeon, inspiring figures like Jamie Roberts, who described him as a role model for the rugby-medical fraternity.
Terry Cobner, the new Welsh Rugby Union president, praised Williams for his contributions to Welsh rugby, emphasizing his role in the 1976 and 1978 Grand Slam campaigns and the 1977 Triple Crown season. Cobner remembered him as a defensive rock and a counter-attacking inspiration, calling him ‘Mr. Indestructible’ and highlighting his crucial drop goal in the 1971 Lions series against the All Blacks.
