Barry John was born in Cefneithin on 6 January 1945 and educated at Gwendraeth Grammar School and Trinity College,Carmarthen where he qualified as a teacher. Initially a fly-half for Llanelli,from where he won the first of his 25 caps against Australia in 1966, he joined Cardiff the following season and went on to score 90 points,including eight drop goals, for Wales. Injury forced him to drop out of the 1968 British Isles' tour to South Africa after four matches, including the first test, but three years later he rewrote the scoring record books on the Lions' tour to Australasia. In 17 appearances, including four tests against New Zealand, he scored 188 points. Less than a year later he retird from playing at the age of 27. He played for the Barbarians, in partnership with Gareth Edwards, against New Zealand in 1967 and South Africa in 1970.