Gareth Edwards : Rugby Union
Sir Gareth Owen Edwards CBE (born 12 July 1947) is a former Welsh rugby union player who is widely considered as the best Welsh rugby player of all time. Before fame, Edwards was a talented soccer player and a gymnast. At the age of 16, he was signed with Swansea Town soccer. Gareth Owens was only 19 when he won his first rugby international cap for Wales against France in 1967.
Greatest Sporting Achievements
Gareth Edwards was declared the greatest player of all time in a poll of international rugby players conducted by Rugby World magazine in 2003. Gareth played for his country on 53 occasions between 1967 to 1978 scoring 88 points with 20 tries in the process. He became a CBE in the 2007 New Year Honors to his services to sport and was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honors of 2015 for his services to sport and charities.
Why Was He So Good?
In The Telegraph, former England captain Will Carling ranked Gareth Edwards the greatest rugby player ever saying, “He was a supreme athlete with supreme skills, the complete package. He played in the 70s but if he played now, he would still be the best. He was outstanding at running, passing, kicking and reading the game. He sits astride the whole of rugby as the ultimate athlete on the pitch.”
What You May Not Know
- He captained his country 13 times.
- Gareth Edwards is an accomplished commentator and pundit. He contributes to BBC and S4C broadcasts, performs an ambassadorial role for the Lions and a director at the Cardiff Blues.
He was part of the Welsh back line that included fly halves Barry John, Phill Bennett, Gerald Davies, John Peter Rhys. - He was the prominent in the Welsh national team that was to the fore in European rugby in the 60s and 70s.
Was he a legend?
Do you agree with Gareth Edwards being a legend of Rugby Union?
How would you rate their greatness? (from good to 'the best')
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