Carwyn James

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Carwyn James (1929–1983) was a Welsh rugby union footballer and coach. He won two Welsh international caps but is most famous for his coaching achievements for both Llanelli and the British and Irish Lions.

He was born in 1929, the son of a coalminer, in Cefneithin in the Gwendraeth Valley. A teacher by profession and later a lecturer at Trinity College, Carmarthen, he played fly-half for Llanelli, playing his first game while still at Gwendraeth Grammar School. He was capped for Wales twice in 1958, the second time at centre, but would probably have gained more caps had he not been in competition with Cliff Morgan for the fly-half spot.

He gained distinction as a coach with Llanelli, whom he coached to four Welsh Cups between 1973 and 1976 and was coach when they won their famous victory over the All Blacks at Stradey Park, Llanelli, in 1972. He never coached the Welsh national side, largely because of his belief that the coach should chair the selectors' meetings and be responsible for choosing the other selectors. However he was coach of the 1971 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, the only Lions side ever to win a series against the All Blacks. His coaching style was said to involve quiet words with players and half-suggestions rather than orders. He was a strong believer in attacking rugby, with the attitude that if a team had possession of the ball it should be able to attack, regardless of the position on the field.

A Welsh speaker and ardent patriot, James stood as Plaid Cymru candidate in Llanelli in the 1970 General Election. In his later years he became a noted broadcaster on the game in Wales. He died suddenly in a hotel room in Amsterdam in 1983. The sports building of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth is named after him.