Lewis Jones . . . Welsh Rugby’s Golden Boy From Before The Golden Era

Former Wales and Great Britain dual code international Lewis Jones: Pic: WRU

Lewis Jones . . . Welsh Rugby’s Golden Boy From Before The Golden Era

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By David Parsons

Tributes have been paid to Lewis Jones, Welsh rugby’s first post-war ‘Golden Boy’ and one of the greatest dual-code internationals produced in Wales, who has died a month short of his 93rd birthday.

A double Grand Slammer and British & Irish Lions Test player before his 21st birthday, Jones is regarded as one of the biggest losses from Wales to the 13-man code.

He quit Welsh rugby after winning 10 caps and headed north to join Leeds RL club for a then astronomical world record fee of £6,000 – £1,000 more than any team had ever previously paid for a player.

Jones represented Wales in rugby league, before going on to win 15 Great Britain caps between 1954-57, including touring in 1954 and playing in the 1957 World Cup in Australia.

He will also be remembered as a Leeds legend between the years of 1952-64, where he made 385 appearances for the club, kicking 1,244 goals and producing a total of 2,920 points.

He became the first ever Leeds player to score over 1,000 goals for the West Yorkshire club.

Former Wales rugby league forward and team manager Jim Mills said: “So saddened by the news that the legendary Lewis Jones passed away yesterday.

“Lewis is regarded as one of the game’s greatest ever players.”

Jones’ fellow dual code Great Britain international John Devereux said: “Sad to see the passing of Lewis Jones.

“Another legend of Welsh rugby and Rugby Leagues passes away. Malcolm Price recently and Dai Watkins – all three having also played for Wales and Great Britain in both codes.

“I met Lewis once – he was the first ever rugby superstar. RIP”

Born in Gorseinon on 11 April 1931, Jones went to the same school, Gowerton County School, that produced other Welsh internationals Rowe Harding, Haydn Tanner, Willie Davies and Onllwyn Brace.

He won Welsh schoolboy caps for cricket and rugby, playing against both France and England in 1948 in a Welsh Secondary Schools XV captained by Carwyn James before his 17th birthday.

He played for his village club and then made his first-class debut for Neath at 17. He played alongside his elder brother Alun, who went on to captain Llanelli, scored 100 points between 24 January and 25 April, and equaled the club record of 18 points in a game.

A month after reaching his 18th birthday in 1949 he joined the Royal Navy to complete his National Service.

His rugby career was then centred around playing for Devonport Services and the Navy in the Inter-Services championship. In 1951, in tandem with fellow Wales and Lions centre Malcom Thomas, he helped the Navy win the title for the first time since 1939.

His first caps came while he was playing for Devonport Services. Having featured in the final two trials ahead of the 1950 Five Nations championship, he was picked to face England at Twickenham while still only 18.

He kicked a penalty and conversion from full back, helped to set up one of the tries and steered Wales to only their second win at the ground in 40 years of trying. It was a nerveless display from the talented teenager in front of a record crowd of 75,000.

When he initially turned up at the ground with his kit bag the gateman wouldn’t let him in because he thought he was a Welsh fan just chancing his luck trying to get into the match for free.

Wales won their first Grand Slam since 1911 and 13 members of the side were selected to tour with the Lions in New Zealand and Australia that summer. The only two to miss out were Ray Cale and Jones.

But when Irish full back George Crawford broke his arm, the Lions called for Jones. He was playing a game of cricket at Devonport Services when the call came. He was called off the field and invited to become the first Lions to fly out to a tour.

The journey took him four days and he made his debut two days later against a combined East Coast / Poverty Bay / Bay of Plenty side. He went on to play in three tests, one in New Zealand and two in Australia, and was the top scorer with 26 points.

A record 16 of those came in a 19-6 win over the Wallabies in Brisbane and he ended the tour with 112 points from his 12 appearances.

He also made his first of six appearances for the Barbarians at Cardiff while still a teenager, scoring two tries and a conversion in an 8-6 win, before going on to score the vital points for a Lions XV in a win over the Blue & Blacks in 1951.

Jones played 385 games for Leeds, scored 144 tries and kicked 1,244 goals, and after a spell in Australia was also involved in coaching the ‘A’ team side.

In later years, Jones remained a committed supporter at the ground where he made his name in league.

“Headingley will not be the same without Lewis,” said Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington.

“He never missed a Rhinos home game and he remained as passionate as ever about his team. He was one of rugby’s first superstars in the 1950s and achieved legendary status with Leeds and within rugby league.

“He will be sadly missed and we will celebrate his life with our fans.”

Rhinos will wear black armbands for their Super League game at Leigh on Friday before paying a full tribute to Jones at their next home game against St Helens.

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