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Gareth Edwards was voted the Greatest Welsh Player of all time at a historic rugby dinner on 21 November 2001 at the Cardiff International Arena. It was organized by the Welsh Rugby Former International Players’ Association and First Press Events, with votes cast through the Western Mail, South Wales Echo, Wales on Sunday, and nine Celtic Press titles . In 2003, Rugby World magazine’s poll of international rugby players declared Edwards the greatest player of all time, with former England captain Will Carling stating, “He was a supreme athlete with supreme skills, the complete package” .
Phil Bennett, in his autobiography, wrote, “A couple of years ago, Gareth was voted by one leading rugby magazine as the greatest rugby player of all time. Had there been any other result then I don’t think I’d have been alone in demanding a recount” . On 19 April 2024, Rugby Rucker named Edwards the best Welsh rugby player of all-time, emphasizing his role in shaping Welsh rugby’s golden era .
Edwards’ unparalleled legacy is not just a matter of opinion but a testament to his extraordinary career, marked by records, accolades, and moments of sheer brilliance.
How Did a Miner’s Son Become a Rugby Prodigy?
Born on 12 July 1947 in Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Glamorgan, Wales, Edwards was a miner’s son who showed early promise across multiple sports . He attended Pontardawe Technical School for Boys, where sports teacher Bill Samuels nurtured his talent, before earning a scholarship to the elite Millfield Public School in Somerset . Edwards excelled in football, signing for Swansea Town at 16, and showed prowess in gymnastics and athletics, even defeating future Olympic medallist Alan Pascoe in the English schools 220 yards hurdles final .
His rugby journey began with Cardiff RFC, where he debuted against Coventry on 17 September 1966, playing 12 seasons and scoring 69 tries in 195 games . Edwards also represented Cardiff College, Wales Secondary Schools, East Wales, Barbarians, Wolfhounds, Irish President XV, World XV, and the first Wales Sevens team in 1973 .
Why Was Edwards the Heartbeat of Welsh Rugby?
Edwards won his first international cap for Wales on 1 April 1967 at age 19 against France in Paris, though Wales lost 20–14 . Between 1967 and 1978, he earned 53 consecutive caps, never missing a game due to form or injury, and scored 20 tries (88 points) . He became Wales’ youngest-ever captain at 20 in February 1968 against Scotland, leading to a 5–0 victory, a record he still holds . Edwards captained Wales 13 times, including in 1978 when they sealed a Grand Slam and a record third consecutive Triple Crown .
During his era, Wales dominated the Five Nations, winning seven titles, including three Grand Slams (1969, 1971, 1976) and five Triple Crowns . He was one of a select group of Welsh players, including Gerald Davies, JPR Williams, Ryan Jones, Adam Jones, Gethin Jenkins, and Alun Wyn Jones, to win three Grand Slams . In 1969, Edwards was named Player of the Year in Wales, and in 1974, he was BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year . His final cap came on 18 March 1978 against France, a 16–7 victory that clinched the Grand Slam, with Edwards named Rothmans Player of the Year .
How Did Edwards Redefine Lions Greatness?
Edwards played 10 Test matches for the British & Irish Lions, starring in the 1971 team that won a series in New Zealand—the only Lions team to do so—and the unbeaten 1974 side in South Africa . He also played 28 non-Test matches for the Lions, scoring 16 tries . His partnership with fly-halves Barry John and Phil Bennett was legendary, with Bennett noting, “When Gwaen-Cae-Gurwen’s finest played for Wales they were able to take the field for the best part of a decade knowing they had the best player in the world in their team” .
Is “That Try” Really the Greatest Ever Scored?
Edwards’ try for the Barbarians against New Zealand in 1973 at Cardiff Arms Park, known simply as “that try,” is regarded as the greatest try ever scored . The move began with Phil Bennett sidestepping three tackles near his goal line, passing to JPR Williams, then through John Pullin, John Dawes, Tommy David, and Derek Quinnell, before Edwards dived to score in the left-hand corner . In a 2002 UK poll by Channel 4, British rugby fans voted this try No. 20 in the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments .
Who Else Could Rival Edwards’ Welsh Crown?
While Edwards stands atop the mountain, other Welsh legends have left indelible marks. Here’s a comprehensive look at the key figures who challenged for the crown, as recognized in the sources.
Phil Bennett: The Sidestepping Maestro
Phil Bennett was named the Greatest Ever Attacking Player at the 2001 Cardiff dinner . He played 29 caps from 1969 to 1978, scoring 166 points, including two tries in his final game against France, clinching the 1978 Grand Slam . Bennett’s dazzling sidesteps for the Barbarians in 1973 sparked “that try,” and he was instrumental for the Lions in 1974 and 1977 . John Dawes said, “He was a magical man to have in your team because he could turn a game with one run” . Bennett played 16 seasons for Llanelli, beating New Zealand in 1974, and remains Scarlets’ club president .
JPR Williams: The Fearless Fullback
JPR Williams was voted the Greatest Ever Defensive Player in 2001 . He played 55 caps from 1969 to 1981, scoring 36 points, and won three Grand Slams . With an 81 percent win record in the Five Nations over 44 games, Williams was a symbol of courage, earning All Blacks’ respect as a 20-year-old . He toured with the Lions in 1971 and 1974, kicking the winning drop-goal in 1971 to seal the series in New Zealand . Williams played for London Welsh and Bridgend, earning eight Lions Tests .
Shane Williams: The Pocket Rocket
Lyn Jones named Shane Williams Wales’ greatest-ever player, citing his ability to thrive against bulkier opponents . Williams scored 58 tries in 87 Tests from 2000 to 2011, making him Wales’ leading try-scorer and fourth globally . He was named World Player of the Year in 2008 and inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2016 . Huw Richards wrote, “Has any rugby player from any country more truly epitomised his nation as it likes to see itself?” . Williams played in three World Cups and two Lions tours, though he started only one Lions Test in 2009 .
Barry John: The King
Barry John, nicknamed ‘The King,’ played 25 caps from 1966 to 1972, retiring at 27 due to the pressures of fame . He scored 90 points for Wales, including 30 of the Lions’ 48 points in their 1971 New Zealand series win . John’s calm flair and game management were unmatched, with Source 2 noting, “He could do heavenly things that were hell for opponents” . He played for Llanelli and Cardiff, touring with the Lions in 1968 and 1971 .
Mervyn Davies: Merve the Swerve
Mervyn Davies was voted the Greatest Welsh Captain in 2001 . He played 38 caps from 1969 to 1976, captaining Wales to the 1975 Five Nations and 1976 Grand Slam . A brain haemorrhage at 29 ended his career while playing for Swansea, but his defensive steel saved an estimated 40 tries for Wales . Davies toured with the Lions in 1971 and 1974, earning induction into the Hall of Fame in 2001 . He passed away in 2012 after battling cancer .
Gerald Davies: The Lightning Wing
Gerald Davies played 46 caps from 1966 to 1978, scoring 20 tries, and won three Grand Slams . Bill McClaren described his sidestep as a “shaft of lightning,” and John Dawes said, “Some of the tries he scored were breath-taking” . Davies revolutionized wing play, notably in 1977 against Scotland, moving infield to spark Phil Bennett’s iconic try . He toured with the Lions in 1968 and 1971, was tour manager in 2009, and received a CBE in 2002 .
Alun Wyn Jones: The Record-Breaker
Alun Wyn Jones holds the record as Wales’ most-capped player with 150 caps, including 138 Test caps from 2006 to the present . He won three Six Nations Grand Slams and was named Player of the Championship in 2019 . Jones played nine consecutive Lions Tests, captaining the third Test in 2013 to clinch the series against Australia . Source 2 notes his “galvanising influence” and “unerring ability to put an imprint on games” .
Ieuan Evans: The Classy Finisher
Ieuan Evans scored 33 tries in 72 Tests from 1987 to 1998, captaining Wales 28 times . His 1993 try against England, sprinting past Rory Underwood and Jonathan Webb, sealed a 10–9 win . Evans’ try against Scotland in 1988 was voted the Greatest Welsh Try of All Time, with Bill McLaren saying, “It was magic, magic all the way” . He toured with the Lions in 1989, 1993, and 1997, scoring the series-winning try in 1989, and was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2014 .
Other Notable Legends
- Graham Price: Voted Greatest Ever Tight Head Prop, Price played 41 caps from 1975 to 1983, excelling at scrums and open play .
- Sam Warburton: Captained Wales 49 times in 74 caps, leading to back-to-back Six Nations titles (2012, 2013) and a 2012 Grand Slam .
- Jonathan Davies: Played 37 caps before switching to rugby league at 26, known for searing pace and rugby intelligence .
- Neil Jenkins: Greatest Ever Goalkicker, Jenkins’ precision was unmatched .
- Bleddyn Williams: Inside centre with 22 caps from 1947 to 1955, part of the 1953 win over New Zealand .
- JJ Williams: Left wing with 30 caps, scored 12 tries and won two Grand Slams .
- Bryn Meredith: Hooker with 34 caps, toured with the Lions three times .
- Delme Thomas: Lock with 25 caps, part of the 1971 Grand Slam .
- Geoff Wheel: Lock with 32 caps, won two Grand Slams .
- Dai Morris: Blindside flanker with 34 caps, part of the 1971 Grand Slam .
- John Taylor: Openside flanker with 26 caps, toured with the Lions twice .
- Carwyn James: Received the Spirit of Welsh Rugby Award for his coaching legacy .
- Gwyn Jones: Received the Bravery Award for his resilience .
- Clive Rowlands: Received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions .
- John Dawes: Voted Greatest Ever Welsh Coach, led Wales to a Grand Slam as player and coach .
- Rob Howley, Scott Quinnell, Adam Jones: Ranked among the 50 Greatest British Rugby Players by fans .
- John Devereux, David Watkins, Kel Coslett, Roy Francis: Inducted into Welsh Sports or Rugby League Halls of Fame for their dual-code contributions .
What Makes Edwards’ Brilliance Unmatched?
Edwards was a rugby player, athlete, and gymnast rolled into one, with pace, strength, and a game-changing long pass . He scored extraordinary tries and bossed games with his kicking, striking fear into opponents who knew he would inevitably make a decisive move . Even Edwards admitted All Black Sid Going may have edged him in their seven encounters, humbly noting Going’s superior back row support . His versatility extended beyond rugby, setting a British angling record in 1990 with a 45 lb 6 oz pike at Llandegfedd Reservoir .
Honored with an MBE in 1975, CBE in 2007, and knighted in 2015 for services to sport and charity, Edwards’ impact transcends the pitch . A sculpture of him stands in Cardiff’s St David’s Centre, and a plaque in Rugby, Warwickshire, marks his place in the Rugby Pathway of Fame . Inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 1997 alongside Barry John and JPR Williams, Edwards remains a global icon .
How Does Edwards’ Legacy Inspire Today’s Rugby Stars?
Edwards’ post-playing career includes commentating for BBC and S4C, directing the Cardiff Blues, and serving as President of Cardiff Institute for the Blind . He starred in the BBC series Gareth Edwards’s Great Welsh Adventure in 2019 and 2021 with his wife Maureen . In 2006, WREX and Greatest Ever Ltd launched a debate to name the Greatest Welsh Players by decade, with Edwards a natural benchmark .
Why Does Edwards Remain the Gold Standard?
While Shane Williams’ sidesteps, Phil Bennett’s flair, and Alun Wyn Jones’ endurance captivate, Gareth Edwards’ all-encompassing brilliance—athleticism, skill, leadership, and clutch performances—sets him apart. His 53 consecutive caps, three Grand Slams, and role in “that try” cement his status as the gold standard . As Welsh rugby looks to the future, Edwards’ legacy remains the benchmark, a beacon for the next generation to chase.
