Bryn Meredith
Encyclopedia
Brinley "Bryn" Victor Meredith (born 21 October 1930 in Abersychan
) was a rugby union
international. Meredith was a mobile hooker, he was selected 34 times for Wales
between 1954 and 1962, but missed 2 matches for health and family bereavement reasons.
tour of South Africa
, in which the British tourists shared the Test series against South Africa 2-2 and Meredith scored his record six tries, including the pick of the second international in Cape Town
. The Lions lost, but their hooker enhanced his reputation by winning a crucial strike in the scrum and then having the pace to get himself among the three-quarters and pop up outside centre Phil Davies
to take a scoring pass.
On the 1955 Lions Tour the all-Welsh front row of Billy Williams
, Bryn Meredith and Courtney Meredith
was selected for a Lions test match. This did not occur again until June 2009 when Gethin Jenkins
, Adam Jones
and Matthew Rees
were selected as the British and Irish Lions
front row for the 2nd Test against South Africa.
In 1959, Meredith was a Lion again, but found himself in the unfortunate position of competing against tour captain Ronnie Dawson
for a place in the Test team. Consequently, he finished as the only Lion not to appear in an international, although many judges felt he should have been selected for the final match of the series.
Captaincy of the team against the Junior All Blacks was a small consolation, but he never complained about his lot and even appeared as a flanker when injuries demanded on the Australian leg of the tour.
In 1962, Meredith was a live candidate for the tour captaincy himself, and although he missed out to Arthur Smith
he added to his reputation in South Africa once more with another excellent tour capped by appearances in all four Tests.
He retired at the end of that tour, having played eight Tests for the Lions. He was voted his country's sportsman of the year in his final season.
and Newport.
He is generally considered to be one of the finest forwards of all time, and is almost obligatorily found in selections of "the greatest Welsh Rugby Teams of all time".
Abersychan
Abersychan is a settlement and community north of Pontypool in Torfaen, Wales, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire. It has a population of 6,826.It lies in the narrow northern section of the Afon Lwyd valley...
) was a rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
international. Meredith was a mobile hooker, he was selected 34 times for Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
between 1954 and 1962, but missed 2 matches for health and family bereavement reasons.
British Lion
In 1955 he was part of the British LionsBritish and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
tour of South Africa
1955 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1955 the British Lions rugby union team toured Southern and Eastern Africa. The Lions drew the test series against , each team winning two of the four matches. They won the first test by a single point and the third by three points and lost the second and fourth matches by wider margins...
, in which the British tourists shared the Test series against South Africa 2-2 and Meredith scored his record six tries, including the pick of the second international in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
. The Lions lost, but their hooker enhanced his reputation by winning a crucial strike in the scrum and then having the pace to get himself among the three-quarters and pop up outside centre Phil Davies
W. P. C. Davies
William Philip Cathcart Davies , played rugby union at centre for Evesham RUFC, Cheltenham RUFC, Cambridge University, Harlequins, England and the British Lions....
to take a scoring pass.
On the 1955 Lions Tour the all-Welsh front row of Billy Williams
Billy Williams (rugby player)
William Owen Gooding 'Billy' Williams was a Welsh international rugby union player. A prop forward, he played club rugby for Gowerton, Swansea and the Royal Navy...
, Bryn Meredith and Courtney Meredith
Courtney Meredith
Courtney Meredith was a Welsh international rugby union prop who played club rugby for Neath. He won fourteen caps for Wales and also played for invitational club the Barbarians. Meredith was a powerful prop, and was much praised by second row players for his tight packing, which allowed them the...
was selected for a Lions test match. This did not occur again until June 2009 when Gethin Jenkins
Gethin Jenkins
Gethin Jenkins is a Wales and British Lions international rugby union player, currently playing for Cardiff Blues. He is the most capped prop-forward for Wales.-Early career:...
, Adam Jones
Adam Rhys Jones
Adam Rhys Jones is a Welsh international rugby union player, currently playing for the Ospreys in the RaboDirect Pro12. His usual position is at tighthead prop...
and Matthew Rees
Matthew Rees
Matthew Rees is a Wales and British Lions international rugby union footballer who currently plays for the Scarlets in the Celtic League. His usual position is at hooker...
were selected as the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
front row for the 2nd Test against South Africa.
In 1959, Meredith was a Lion again, but found himself in the unfortunate position of competing against tour captain Ronnie Dawson
Ronnie Dawson (rugby player)
Alfred Ronald "Ronnie" Dawson played hooker for Ireland and was captain of the British Lions rugby union team on their 1959 tour to Australia, New Zealand and Canada.Ronnie was educated in St...
for a place in the Test team. Consequently, he finished as the only Lion not to appear in an international, although many judges felt he should have been selected for the final match of the series.
Captaincy of the team against the Junior All Blacks was a small consolation, but he never complained about his lot and even appeared as a flanker when injuries demanded on the Australian leg of the tour.
In 1962, Meredith was a live candidate for the tour captaincy himself, and although he missed out to Arthur Smith
Arthur Smith (rugby player)
Arthur Robert Smith was a wing of extraordinary ability and intelligence. He captained both Scotland and the British Lions. He won 33 caps for Scotland and was never dropped until his retirement in 1962, although he did miss the odd match due to injury...
he added to his reputation in South Africa once more with another excellent tour capped by appearances in all four Tests.
He retired at the end of that tour, having played eight Tests for the Lions. He was voted his country's sportsman of the year in his final season.
Club career
Meredith played his club rugby for London WelshLondon Welsh R.F.C.
London Welsh Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in London that currently plays in The Championship, the second level of the English rugby union league system .-Club history:...
and Newport.
He is generally considered to be one of the finest forwards of all time, and is almost obligatorily found in selections of "the greatest Welsh Rugby Teams of all time".