Jeffrey Squire was born in Pontywaun, Monmouthshire,on 23 September 1951 and educated at Newbridge Grammar School and St Luke's College, Exeter. After initially working as a teacher he later was employed by a building society and then developed a sportswear business. He played in the back row for Newport, Cross Keys and, chiefly, Pontypool where he was club captain between 1979 and 1982. Jeff Squire captained Wales in six of his 29 internationals between 1977 and 1983. On three British Isles tours to New Zealand in 1977, as a replacement, and 1983 and South Africa in 1980 he played in a total of 32 matches, including six tests. On the 1980 tour he was Lions' captain against the Junior Springboks. He was also selected for the Barbarians in the cancelled fixture against Australia in 1982.