Ray Hopkins

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Ray (Chico) Hopkins (born on July 8 1946 in Maesteg Wales) is a Welsh rugby player.

[edit] Early career

Hopkins played youth Rugby Union for the Maesteg RFC academy. Later, he played for the senior Maesteg team, Wales, British and Irish Lions, and the team now called the Llanelli Scarlets.

[edit] Moment of fame

Although he played only 20 minutes for the full Wales team, Hopkins is regarded as a hero in Welsh rugby history^{[citation needed]}. It was unfortunate for him that Gareth Edwards was in possession of the Wales, British, and Irish Lions scrum half position at the time.

His moment of fame came during the England v. Wales game at Twickenham in 1970. The Wales team were behind on points with twenty minuets to go. The captain, Gareth Edwards, was injured and had to retire from the game. Hopkins came onto the field as a replacement. He soon scored a try, and, after a conversion by JPR Williams, Wales won the game. He toured with the 1971 Lions to New Zealand and played in ten games against provincial sides. He was an injury replacement for Gareth Edwards in the DunedinTest match, which the Lions won, 9-3.

In 1972 Hopkins joined the Swinton RLFC rugby league team. He had been a National Coal Board fitter at their workshop in Maesteg.