THROUGHOUT the Six Nations this year, we have been highlighting the many rugby players from the region who have represented Wales over the last 142 years.
Although the tournament is now over, and Wales’ performance wasn’t spectacular, we are finishing the series with our final set of internationals and their careers.
Peter Rees
Peter Rees was born on February 8, 1925, in Penygroes. He played as a winger for Llanelli.
After leaving Gwendraeth Grammar School at 14, he worked in Cross Hands Colliery and played rugby for Penygroes and Tumble.
He moved to Llanelli, making his debut aged 20 on September 1, 1945, scoring three tries, with two more against Bath the following week. He scored a total of 15 tries that season, becoming the club’s leading try scorer for the year and was the top try scorer for the 1947/48 season with 13. He played for the club in the loss against the New Zealand Army in 1945 and against Australia in October 1947.
He played twice for Wales in the 1947 Five Nations Championship, in wins over France and Ireland. He played in three trials in 1946-47, scoring two tries for ‘The Rest’ against Wales in a 6-6 draw, but wasn’t considered for the national side again.
He turned his focus to Llanelli, becoming chairman between 1967-71 and president between 1983-86, helping to steer the club back to the top tier of Welsh rugby.
Dill Johnson
Dill Johnson was born William Dillwyn Johnson on December 5, 1923, in Pontarddulais. He played rugby as a flanker and made one appearance for Wales against England on January 17, 1953.
Wynne Evans
Wynne Evans was a scrum half who was born Thomas Wynne Evans on August 13, 1926, in Llandybie.
He made one appearance for Wales in the January 4, 1958, test against Australia.
Rhys Haydn Williams
Rhys Haydn Williams was born in Cwmllynfell on July 14, 1930. He played rugby at second row for Llanelli RFC. He made his debut for the club at the age of 19 and captained them in the 1957/58 season.
He made his Welsh debut in 1954 against Ireland and played 23 times for Wales between then and 1960, including captaining the side against England in 1960. He scored three points in his international career.
He played 22 games for the Barbarians between 1954 and 1959, becoming the Welshman with the most appearances.
He played for the British Lions on the 1955 tour to South Africa and the 1959 tour to Australia and New Zealand, playing 10 consecutive test matches.
Terry Price
Terry Price was born in Hendy on July 16, 1945, and played as a full back for Llanelli RFC.
He played against New Zealand for Llanelli on their 1963 tour of Britain, where he broke the jaw of Waka Nathan.
He made his international debut for Wales in rugby union against England in 1965. He scored a drop goal against Ireland the same tournament to earn Wales a Triple Crown, their first in more than a decade. He made a total of eight appearances for Wales, with his remaining caps coming against Scotland and France in 1965, England and Australia in 1966 and Scotland and France in 1967.
He went on the British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand in 1966.
He played rugby league as a full back for Bradford Northern and represented Wales and Great Britain in rugby league, with the Great Britain cap coming against Australia in 1970.
Keith Hughes
Keith Hughes was born in Glanamman on December 15,1949. He played as a centre for Oxford and Cambridge and made three appearances for Wales between 1970 and 1974.
His debut came against Ireland on March 14, 1970, with his final match at home to Scotland on January 19, 1974.
Kevin Hopkins
Kevin Hopkins was born in Cwmllynfell on September 29, 1961. He began playing rugby for Ystradgynlais and then moved play first-class rugby for Cardiff RFC, Swansea RFC – who he captained during the 1991-92 season - and Neath RFC.
He followed his grandfather Tom Hopkins into international rugby when he made his international debut against England during the 1985 Five Nations Championship. He made a total of seven appearances for his country, playing against France, England and Scotland in the 1987 Five Nations Championship and against Tonga and Canada in the 1987 World Cup group matches.
His final appearance came against the United States in 1987.
He also represented the Barbarians twice and after retiring from rugby, has held coaching positions, including being Ospreys director of rugby and as backs coach at Dings Crusaders. He also worked as the sports academy coaching co-ordinator for Pembrokeshire College.
Anthony Buchanan
Anthony Buchanan was born on June 30, 1955, in Ystradgynlais. He played as a prop for Llanelli RFC.
He made his debut for Wales against Tonga on May 29, 1987. He made a total of five appearances for the national side, with four in the 1987 World Cup and his final appearance in the 1988 Five Nations Championship when Wales won the Triple Crown.
He was appointed chairman of Llanelli RFC after three decades of service to them as player and team manager.
He served on the WRU’s board and was a council member in 2014, standing down in 2019 before being re-elected to the council in 2022.
Carwyn Davies
Carwyn Davies was born in Llandovery on April 17, 1964 and played as a winger for Llanelli.
He held the club record for most tries scored during the 1988/89 season, with 45 in 44 matches. In total, he scored 121 tries in 159 matches.
He played four times for Wales, including his debut against Samoa on November 12, 1988, and his final match coming against France in the 1989 Five Nations Championship. He scored one try.
He retired from rugby in 1991 to run the farm in Llangadog.
Arwel Thomas
Arwel Thomas was born in Glanaman on November 8, 1974.
He played as a fly half for Swansea. He scored 1,963 points for the club over seven years, including 40 tries. He played for Neath in 2005 and captained the team for the 2009-10 season, despite initially retiring in 2008.
He made his debut for Wales in 1996 against Italy and played a total of 23 games for Wales between 1996 and 2001. He featured in eight Five Nations games and 15 friendlies.
He scored 211 points in his international career, with 11 tries, 30 conversions and 32 penalties.
James Griffiths
James Griffiths was born on January 3, 1977, in Glanaman. He played rugby as a lock and featured more than 125 times for Swansea RFC before moving to the Scarlets in 2003 at the start of regional rugby.
He made his only appearance for Wales against Samoa in 2000.
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