John James Williams

John James Williams

John James Williams, commonly referred to as 'JJ', was born in Nantyffyllon, near Maesteg, on 1 April 1948 and educated at Maesteg Grammar School and Cardiff College of Education where he qualified as a teacher. He later set up his own industrial cleaning business and was also a broadcaster for BBC Wales. After playing at fly-half for Welsh Secondary Schools and wing for Maesteg and Bridgend, he moved to Llanelli and was a member of the famous side that beat the All Blacks in October 1972. At the end of the same season he scored three tries when Llanelli beat Cardiff in the Welsh Cup Final. Between 1973 and 1979 he gained 30 caps for Wales on the wing; his 12 international tries included a hat-trick against Australia in 1975. A Commonwealth Games sprinter in 1970, and Welsh 100 metres champion a year later, he put his pace and footballing ability to maximum use for both the British Isles and the Barbarians. On successive Lions' tours to South Africa in 1974 and New Zealand in three years later he totalled 22 tries in 26 appearances, including five in seven tests. His 17 tries in 10 games for the Barbarians featured five against Atlantic Provinces in Halifax on the 1976 tour of Canada.