The great Western Mail rugby writer John Billot wrote in his book, ‘History of Welsh International Rugby’ of the 5-3 victory: “A flying touch-down, inches before the ball rolled over the dead-ball line at the river end, 10 minutes before the final whistle, meant a try and a lucky win for Wales. Wing forward Derek Williams was the scorer of this ‘try in the Taff’. The French thought the ball was out of play when Williams grounded it, but referee Peter Cooper (England) awarded a try and Garfield Owen converted from an easy position with the match winning kick.”
That was Derek’s second and last cap for Wales, but what a way to go out and be remembered. His debut had come in the 16-11 triumph over the French at Stade Colombes the previous year. The French were poised to win the Championship outright for the first time, but Wales clung on to win.
Derek was drafted into the back row with Brian Sparks for that game when Clem Thomas and Len Davies withdrew and the Welsh pack carried the day in Paris.
Born in Cardiff on 24 November, 1924, he learned his rugby at Cantonian High School and Cardiff Technical College before going to Oxford University. He gained a first-class degree at Merton College and became a research chemist in Oxford.
While he was a student he won a rugby Blue in the first official Varsity Match after World War 11 in 1945 and won a half-Blue for boxing in 1948. He lost on both occasions, going down 11-8 at Twickenham Stadium against the Light Blues and losing at light-heavyweight in the boxing.
As a cricketer, Williams was a Glamorgan Colts player in 1945 and played with the Glamorgan Second XI until 1953, but was unable to break into their County Championship team.
He played one first-class cricket game for Oxford University against Gloucestershire in 1946, scoring 3 and 0 in a match that the students lost by an innings and 149 runs after the England duo of Charlie Barnett (110) and Wally Hammond (132) had run riot in the opening innings. He also played Minor Counties cricket for Berkshire in 1949 and 1950.
A keen athlete, he won the Berkshire county mile championship in 1949 and was part of the relay team that carried the Olympic Torch towards Wembley Stadium for the 1948 Olympic Games.
He made the first of his 248 appearances for Cardiff RFC in the 1945/46 season and went on to play for the club against the 1951 Springboks, 1953 All Blacks and 1957 Wallabies. He was one of only two survivors from the team that won 8-3 against New Zealand at the time of his death. He also played for the Barbarians.
He joined the Rugby Committee at Cardiff RFC in 1974/75 and became Chairman and then President of Cardiff Athletic Club. The thoughts of the Welsh Rugby Union are with the family at this time.
