- Edwards, Gareth
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born July 12, 1947, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, WalesWelsh Rugby Union player.Edwards, considered to be among the greatest rugby players, played scrum half on the great Welsh sides that won the Five Nations Championship 11 times in 16 seasons between 1964 and 1978. He played 53 tests for Wales and 10 for the British Lions (1967–78). Amazingly for a half scrum, he scored 20 tries for Wales.
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▪ Welsh athleteborn July 12, 1947, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, WalesWelsh rugby union football player who led the Welsh national team that dominated European play from the mid-1960s through the '70s. Edwards was the best player on what may have been the greatest back line in the history of the sport. Some experts argue that Edwards was simply the greatest rugby player ever. With Edwards at scrum half, Wales won the Five Nations Championship 11 times in 16 seasons (1964–78).Between 1967 and 1978 Edwards played 53 Test (international) matches plus 10 Tests for the British Lions (now the British and Irish Lions). He was part of the Welsh back line that included fly halves Barry John (1966–72, 25 Tests) and Phil Bennett (1969–78, 29 Tests), winger Gerald Davies (1966–78, 46 Tests), and fullback John Peter Rhys (“JPR”) Williams (1969–81, 55 Tests). Wales was frequently launched into attack by Edwards, who passed the ball back to Johns and later Bennett, with the action ending often in a try from one of the great back line players such as Davies. Amazingly for a scrum half, Edwards also scored 20 tries in his 53 tests for Wales. After the retirement of Edwards, Davies, Bennett, and Williams, which all came in rapid succession between 1978 and 1981, the Welsh national team began a steady decline.John Nauright* * *
Universalium. 2010.
