Born in Glyncorrwg on 22 April, 1924, he attended Port Talbot Grammar School and was in the Wales Under 15 side that beat England 20-0 in 1938. He played cricket for Welsh Schools before going to Loughborough College, where he was the welterwight boxing champion.
He played for Llanelli for three seasons before joining London Welsh. He made his Welsh debut in the Triple Crown victory over Ireland in Belfast in 1950 and retained his place for the Grand Slam triumph over France that season.
When the 1951 Springboks came to the UK and Ireland Williams faced the tourists four times – for Llanelli, London Counties, Wales and the Barbarians. London Counties were the only team to beat the Boks, 11-9 at Twickenham.
He played throughout the 1952 Grand Slam season and made his final appearance against England in the 9-6 defeat at Twickenham on 16 January, 1954. In that game he dislocated his shoulder trying to stop Ted Woodward scoring his first try. He had treatment at half-time and bravely returned, but the injury ultimately led to him retiring from the game.
A schoolteacher, he taught at Harrow County School and Whitgift Public School. A renowned coach, he wrote four books on coaching rugby and was invovled in coaching Cambridge University and Blackheath.
His death means there are only seven survivors from the 1953 team that beat the All Blacks – the last Welsh teams to beat New Zealand in a full international. They are skipper Bleddyn Williams, Gareth Griffiths, Gwyn Rowlands, Cliff Morgan, Billy Williams, Courtenay Meredith and John Gwilliam.
The thoughts of everyone at the WRU go to his family.
