J. P. R. Williams

John Peter Rhys Williams, known as J. P. R. Williams or JPR, was a Welsh rugby union full-back who played for Wales during its golden era in the 1970s. Born in 1949 near Bridgend, he won 55 caps for Wales, five as captain, and eight for the British Lions, and was a member of the Welsh sides that won Grand Slams in 1971, 1976 and 1978. Known for an aggressive attacking style, he scored five tries in ten matches against England. He was also a strong junior tennis player before choosing rugby, and he worked as an orthopaedic surgeon, qualifying in 1973 and becoming a consultant in Bridgend in 1986. He was appointed MBE in 1977, was an inaugural inductee of the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 1997, and died on 8 January 2024.