Thomas Raymond Prosser was born in Pontypool on 2 March 1927 and educated at George Street School in the town. He played for Pontypool United before graduating to the Pontypool club where he became a legend as player, captain and coach. In 1954 he played for Pontypool & Cross Keys against New Zealand and captained the same combined XV against Australia in 1957. He was also Pontypool's club captain for two seasons from 1956 to 1958 and coached the club for 16 years from 1970. He worked as a bulldozer driver and later in industrial reclamation. In December 1955 he played at lock for the England & Wales XV against Scotland & Ireland in Dublin, and in his more familiar position of prop in a similar fixture at Twickenham in 1959. He won his first Wales' cap against Scotland in February 1956 and went on to play in 22 internationals, his final appearance at the age of 34 against France in 1961. On the British Isles' tour of Australasia in1959, Ray Prosser played in 13 matches, including the victorious fourth test against New Zealand.