William Benjamin Cleaver

William Benjamin Cleaver

William Benjamin Cleaver was born in Treorchy on 15 September 1921 and educated at the local Pentre Grammar School. Later at the University College, Cardiff, he became one of the first graduates of its mine engineering course and went on to be the deputy director of mining in the South Wales coalfield. After playing for several teams during the war years he joined Cardiff in 1945 and by the time he retired in 1950 had played 141 games for the club. His prowess as a tactical kicker earned him the sobriquet 'Billy the Kick' but he was a gifted all-round fly half who was equally at home at full-back or centre. He won 14 caps for Wales between 1947 and 1950 and then went on the British Isles tour to Australasia where he excelled at full-back, playing in 15 games, including three tests. When he played for the Barbarians in their victory over Australia in 1948 he had completed a unique hat-trick: three wins over the touring Wallabies in three different positions for Cardiff (fly-half), Wales (full-back) and the Barbarians (centre). He retired immediately after the 1950 Lions' tour to concentrate on his mining career. Billy Cleaver died on 29 September 2003, aged 82.