Ernest Raymond John

Ernest Raymond John

Ernest Raymond John was born in Neath on 3 December 1925 and educated at the local grammar school before serving in the Royal Navy and later becoming a quantity surveyor. A fine lineout specialist in the second row of the pack, he played all his club rugby for Neath, whom he captained in 1950/51, and won 19 caps for Wales between 1950 and 1954. Against Ireland in 1951 he played one international at blind-side wing-forward. On the British Isles tour of Australasia he was selected for all six tests against New Zealand and Australia and played in a total of 22 games. In 1952 he played for the Barbarians against South Africa and in the same season was captain on the Easter tour against Swansea. Known as Roy John he died on 30 September 1981, aged 55.