Gareth Edwards

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Gareth Edwards was prominent in the Wales national team that was to the fore in European rugby in the '60s and '70s. He is one of a small group of Welsh players to have won three Grand Slams. Edwards was very fortunate in playing with two of the best outside halves the game has ever seen: Barry John and Phil Bennett. In the early part of his career, Edwards and his club teammate Barry John appeared inseparable, always knowing what the other was doing. Edwards also played ten times for the British & Irish Lions in test matches, playing for the 1971 Lions team that was the only such team to win a series in New Zealand, and for the unbeaten 1974 side in South Africa. He made his debut for Cardiff RFC against Coventry on 17 September 1966 and played 12 seasons for Cardiff, scoring 69 tries in 195 games. Edwards' try for the Barbarians against the All Blacks in 1973 at Cardiff Arms Park, often referred to simply as 'that try', is regarded as the greatest try ever. The move starts with a deep kick from the New Zealand winger Bryan Williams. The ball was caught by Phil Bennett near his own 22. Bennett sidestepped and evaded three tackles, in turn passing the ball to JPR Williams. It next passed through four pairs of hands (John Pullin, John Dawes, Tommy David and Derek Quinnell) before Edwards took the final pass cleanly from Derek Quinnell and finished with a diving try in the left-hand corner.

In Their Own Story

Edwards won his first international cap for Wales on 1 April 1967 at the age of 19 against France in Paris. Wales lost 20–14 to eventual championship winners France. All his caps were won in succession; he never had a dip in form or an injury that would allow anybody else to take his place. Edwards is Wales's youngest ever captain, first taking the captaincy at the age of 20 in February 1968 against Scotland – a game which the Welsh side won 5–0. In 1969, Edwards was named Player of the Year in Wales. In 1974 Edwards was named BBC Wales Sports Personality of the year. He followed up this success by receiving the MBE in 1975. Edwards' long successful international career came to an end on 18 March 1978 in the same way as he had started his career – against France in the Five Nations Championship. However, unlike on his debut, Edwards celebrated with a 16–7 winning finish in front of a home crowd at the Arms Park in Cardiff. Wales also sealed the Grand Slam and a third consecutive Triple Crown – a record, given that no team had ever won it more than twice in a row. To crown his achievements he was named Rothmans Player of the Year 1978. In 2003, in a poll of international rugby players conducted by Rugby World magazine, Edwards was declared the greatest player of all time. In 2007, former England captain Will Carling published his list of the '50 Greatest Rugby players' in The Daily Telegraph, and ranked Edwards the greatest player ever, stating: 'He was a supreme athlete with supreme skills, the complete package. He played in the 1970s, but, if he played now, he would still be the best. He was outstanding at running, passing, kicking and reading the game. He sits astride the whole of rugby as the ultimate athlete on the pitch.'

Reader's Guide

Gareth Edwards' career within the Five Nations Championship was marked by dominance. During his era the Welsh side won the title seven times, including three grand slams. Edwards is one of a small group of Welsh players to have won three Grand Slams. He won his first cap on 1 April 1967 and his last on 18 March 1978, with all 53 caps won in succession. He scored twenty tries in internationals. Edwards was named Player of the Year in Wales in 1969, BBC Wales Sports Personality of the year in 1974, and Rothmans Player of the Year in 1978. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1975 Birthday Honours for services to Welsh rugby football; he was promoted to Commander (CBE) in the 2007 New Year Honours, 'for services to sport, particularly rugby.' He was knighted in the 2015 Birthday Honours, for services to sport and for charitable services. In 2003, in a poll of international rugby players conducted by Rugby World magazine, Edwards was declared the greatest player of all time. In 2007, former England captain Will Carling ranked Edwards the greatest player ever in The Daily Telegraph.

Did You Know?

• Edwards first took the captaincy at the age of 20 in February 1968.
• He scored twenty tries in internationals and all his 53 caps were won in succession.
• Edwards played for the 1971 Lions team that was the only such team to win a series in New Zealand.
• In 1990 he set a British angling record when he landed a pike weighing 45 lb 6oz at Llandegfedd Reservoir.
• Edwards was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1976 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews.