Last link with famous Rugby test broken

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33189, 31 March 1973, Page 4

Last link with famous Rugby test broken

(By

J. K. BROOKS)

The last flickering light of nostalgia from the famous Rugby test between New Zealand and Wales in 1905-06 was extinguished last week with, the death of the former Welsh wing, Air Willie Llewellyn, at the age of 95. Since the death last year of New Zealand’s Mr Billy Wallace — the man he marked in that memorable match — Mr Llewellyn had been the sole survivor of a game which has an honoured place in the annals of Rugby. Thousands of New Zealanders have allegedly been told at an early age of the gross injustice inflicted on the All Blacks that day at Cardiff Arms Park; of how R G. Deans was denied the try which would have drawn the match through the referee's tardiness. But legend often outstrips fact, and although Mr Wallace maintained throughout his life that Deans had indeed scored. Mr Llewellyn’s recollection of the incident, when he was interviewed three

months ago. struck at the importance it had assumed. The fuss over the “Deans business” had blown up later; it was not an issue immediately after the game. The Ail Blacks had said they had no complaints. His view was supported by a report on the game published by a Cardiff newspaper. Although the report occupied almost a full page, and was in small type at that, there was no reference to Deans’s bid for the line. And when Deans was interviewed by “The Press” on his return to Christchurch, he dwelt more on the glories of Niagara Fails than on Rugby in Britain. Mr Llewellyn, however, felt that the All Blacks deserved a try for their efforts — but that Wales deserved two or three more. In his declining years, Mr Llewellyn lived in the small village of Pontyclun. near Cardiff, and was visited by many keen Rugby men, New Zealanders among them. He made light of his achievements but he was, in his day, a footballer of considerable note; he did

not need his longevity to make him a famous name in Welsh Rugby. As a player from the club with the almost unpronouncable name of Llwynypia, Mr Llewellyn scored four tries in his debut for Wales in 1899. He scored 16 more in a further 19 internationals for his country to set a record which lasted for 50 years. Willie Llewellyn toured New Zealand as a member of the 1904 British team, and many of his favourite souvenirs' came from the east coast of the North Island, where he was evidently held in particularly high esteem. His biggest treasure house, however, was his memory. He saw every famous Welsh player from Percy Bush to Barry John, and it was not surprising that he referred to Ken Jones', the Lions wing who broke his Welsh try scoring record, as a man who had played for Wales “recently.” Jones retired 16 years ago. A small, quietly spoken man whose faculties were not dimmed by advancing years. Willie Llewellyn will long be mourned in Wales.