General Chat

Oh Thank You Elizabeth <3

You are so kind!

Thank you for posting. It's always lovely to speak with you! :-) :-)

JEM & THE RUGBY GANG

SEND THEIR CONDOLENCES TO RHYS (MEEFY)

Rhys will be attending his Gran Nora's funeral today.

Our deepest Sympathy Rhys :-) :-) <3

BRILLIANT NEWS!.....


LEIGH HALFPENNY

DAN BIGGAR

JONATHAN DAVIES

RHYS WEBB

ALL FIT FOR SELECTION :-) :-) :-) :-)




WALES' STARTING TEAM TO FACE THE ALL BLACKS

TO BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW LUNCHTIME!

Watch This Space :-) :-)

And Me Jem :-D

WALES v NEW ZEALAND SPECIAL WEEK!

HERE IT IS!

WALES <3 TEAM TO PLAY NEW ZEALAND

BACKS:
15. Leigh Halfpenny
14. Alex Cuthbert
13. Jonathan Davies
12. Jamie Roberts
11. George North
10. Dan Biggar
9. Rhys Webb

FORWARDS:
1. Paul James
2. Richard Hibbard
3. Samson Lee
4.Jake Ball
5. Alun Wyn Jones
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton (CAPT)
8. Taulupe Faletau

Replacements
16. Scott Baldwin; 17. Nicky Smith; 18. Rhodri Jones; 19. Luke Charteris;
20. Justin Tipuric; 21. Mike Phillips; 22 .James Hook; 23 Liam Williams


FANTASTIC TEAM

WALES v NEW ZEALAND

This Saturday, November 22nd .. Kick-off 5.30pm

BBC2 / S4C / BBC Radio Wales / BBC Radio Cymru

and "RADIO JEM" ;-)


SWITCH ON ~ TUNE IN ~ AND SHOUT W-A-L-E-S<3

WALES 19 ~~ NEW ZEALAND 8


THIS WAS THE FINAL SCORE....

.... ON THE DAY THAT WALES LAST BEAT NEW ZEALAND!

The date...
DECEMBER 19th 1953!


The Wales Players arrived at Cardiff from all over the country BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT just 3 hours before Kick-Off!!

These were the days when Rugby Union was fiercely AMATEUR, and even the travelling expenses were quibbled over!

The Team had a quick lunch, before making their way, walking alongside the crowds, to Cardiff Arms Park.

The visiting team from New Zealand, THE ALL BLACKS, had to play against an "extra man" of 56,000! The stadium was packed with Wales supporters!

The Wales team was Captained by BLEDDYN LLEWELLYN, who had also led Cardiff RFC to an 8-3 Victory over the All-Blacks, just 4 days earlier.


THE 1953 TEAMS

WALES:

G Williams (London Welsh)
KJ Jones (Newport)
GM Griffiths (Cardiff)
BL Williams (Cardiff, capt)
G Rowlands (Cardiff)
CI Morgan (Cardiff)
WR Willis (Cardiff)
WOG Williams (Swansea)
DM Davies (Somerset Police)
CC Meredith (Neath)
ER John (Neath)
JRG Stephens (Neath)
S Judd (Cardiff)
JA Gwilliam (Gloucester)
RCC Thomas (Swansea)

NEW ZEALAND:

RWH Scott
AEG Elsom
JM Tanner
RA Jarden
BBJ Fitzpatrick
LS Haig
K Davis
KL Skinner
RC Hemi
IJ Clarke
RA White
GN Dalzell
RC Stuart (capt)
WA McCaw
WH Clark

Referee: Dr Peter F Cooper (England)


WALES' WIN OVER NEW ZEALAND:

With just 15 minutes left of this momentous match, Wales were trailing behind 8-5.

Wales played on valiantly with injured players- Wing Gareth Griffiths with a dislocated shoulder and Captain Bleddyn Williams with torn thigh ligaments.

Flanker Sid Judd crossed the line to add 3 points to the score (Tries were just 3 points in those days) a conversion and another try by Ken Jones sealed Wales' win 13-8.
(source- BBC SPORT)

EDITED:
WRU Website gives a different account of the equalising of the score to 8-8.
It says the first 5 points of the match were by a try from Judd, then converted by Rowlands.
The equalising came from a PENALTY also from Gwyn Rowlands.

THIS WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE POINTS-WISE.

Scorers - Wales: Tries: Sid Judd, Ken Jones; Cons: Gwyn Rowlands (2); Pen:
Rowlands
New Zealand: Try: Bill Clark; Con: Ron Jarden; Pen: Jarden



Following their defeat of the All Blacks, the team returned home immediately after the match.... the same way they arrived! :-D :-D


*NB.. the WRU website gives the date in 1953 as 9th December. However all other sources give the date as 19th December.

BLEDDYN WILLIAMS ~ "PRINCE OF CENTRES"

THIS GIANT OF WELSH RUGBY UNION LED WALES TO VICTORY OVER THE NEW ZEALAND ALL BLACKS IN 1953.

Bleddyn Llewellyn Williams was born in Taffs Well near Cardiff on 22nd February1923.
He was one of 12 children, the third of 8 brothers.

Bleddyn won a scholarship to Rydal School in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, where he was a pupil from the age of 14 until 18.

Other famous past pupils of Rydal include Coronation Street Star William Roach and his son Linus; Anne Reid (Val Barlow) Dafydd Wigley (Plaid Cymru MP)and Paula Yates.

During the War Years, Bleddyn served in the Royal Airforce as a Glider Pilot.

Bleddyn married Violet Harry in 1944. The couple had 3 children, a son and two daughters.

At the time of his captaining Wales to victory in 1953, he was also Captain of Cardiff RFC. He had led Cardiff to play and defeat the All Blacks just days before!

Each one of Bleddyn's brothers also played for Cardiff in their turn. His brother Lloyd represented Wales in the 1960s.

Bleddyn turned down an offer of £6,000, a fortune in those days, to play professional Rugby League for Leeds. He chose to remain with Rugby Union, which was then an Amateur game.

BLEDDYN CAME TO BE KNOWN AS "THE PRINCE OF CENTRES"!
He had the ability to "side-step" off both feet, and was regarded as the "Master of the outside break".

He was mostly self-taught, as the game did not have the coaching set up of today's rugby!
"You have to rely on your wits", he once said in an interview, " You did not have hours of analysis of the opposition. You played the game as you saw it!".

An example of this, was the fact that the Wales Team had just a 1 hour run-out at Glamorgan Wanderers, on the Friday Afternoon before the All Blacks match in 1953.

Bleddyn was known for his STRONG LEADERSHIP. He was robust in tackle, a "magnificent passer of the ball", and famous for "the definitive WELSH SIDESTEP" and surging runs.

Bleddyn won 22 International Caps for Wales. He Captained Wales 5 times.
He was picked for the British Lions Squad in 1950 for their tour of Australia and New Zealand. He was captain for some of these games.

Bleddyn was forced into retirement through injury, in 1955, aged just 32.
He then embarked on a career in the media, becoming an "authoritative Commentator of the game".

Bleddyn was the Rugby Union Correspondent for The Sunday People for 30 years.

In 2005, Bleddyn was awarded an MBE in the New Years Honours List. He humbly attributed his achievements to his teammates.

Bleddyn Williams died on July 6th 2009 at The Holme Tower Medical Centre in Cardiff.
He was 86.



PROFILE:
BLEDDYN LLEWELLYN WILLIAMS

Date of Birth: February 22nd 1923
Place of Birth: Taffs Well, near Cardiff, South Wales
Date of Death: July 6th 2009
Place of Death: Cardiff, South Wales

Rydal School, Colwyn Bay, North Wales
Occupation- Glider Pilot; Journalist

Height: 5 foot 10 inches
Weight: 13 stone

RUGBY UNION CAREER:
Position: CENTRE

AMATEUR CLUBS:
Taffs Well RFC
Cardiff RFC
Newbridge RFC
Barbarian FC

NATIONAL TEAMS:
WALES .................... 1947- 1955 ... Caps 22 ... Points 21
BRITISH LIONS ...... 1950 .............. Caps 5 ..... Points 3



IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR A RADIO INTERVIEW WITH THE GREAT BLEDDYN WILLIAMS..

Click on the link

BLEDDYN WILLIMS ... THE OTHER PRINCE OF WALES
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/wales/8137077.stm

:-0 HOWLERS :-0

You will love this fantastic bit of history Jem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0Kv9FXqs1k


Enjoy, you might know some in the video.


Shaun :-)

You beat me to it Shaun! :-D :-D :-D :-D

I watched it from my recording box yesterday too :-) :-) :-)

It's brilliant!

I knew Ray Gravell, and I have spoken to Barry Llewellyn when I dealt with the advertising for his Sports Shop in the 1970s

We used to pass Gareth Jenkins very often on his bike in Pembrey Country Park.

CARRYING ON OUR WALES v NEW ZEALAND THEME


AN HOUR LONG WONDERFUL TREAT......


MAORI SONGS ..........DAME KIRI TE KANAWA <3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y22c0Fyc1WQ


Stunning New Zealand Photography :-)

This is the most beautiful music that I have listened to in a long time <3

:-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D


Bryn Terfel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLb5aqugDH8

Dame Shirley Bassey & Bryn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3yRJBf8J70

Harry Secombe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b26VoprfGfc

Welsh Chant and Funfare from Cardiff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6TXz_shw_M

World’s largest ever Male Choir sing “ Gwahoddiad “
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5mqR-ehY9s

Not forgetting our Max
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np8xufcOztM

Thank you Shaun :-D :-D :-D

Between us we will keep all of Wales and New Zealand entertained for a good few hours :-D :-D

Listening to Max Boyce now :-D :-D

DO - RE - MI - FA - SO - LA - TI - DO!
<3 <3 :-D :-D

Hiya Ann :-D :-D :-D ;-) ;-) <3

There's lovely to see iw singing in you lovely Welsh voice, innit mun!!! ;-) ;-) ;-) :-D :-D :-D

15 & 3/4 HOURS TO GO :-D :-D :-D

WALES v NEW ZEALAND

Autumn Internationals 2014 :-)


WALES TEAM SELECTION CHANGES:

Warren Gatland has chosen what he considers his MOST EXPERIENCED players to face The mighty All Blacks tomorrow.

The team selection he says, is "more or less" the same team that was chosen to face Australia.

Some changes have been forced upon Gatland-
Wales' Loose Head Prop, GETHIN JENKINS (no 1) has sustained a HAMSTRING INJURY, and so PAUL JAMES takes his place.

BRADLEY DAVIES has been unable to train. He has been very sore following the Fiji match. JAKE BALL takes his number 4 Second Row position.

LIAM WILLIAMS, who played phenomenally last week, and was named Man Of The Match, has been left out of the starting side.
There are a number of reasons for this.

Firstly LEIGH HALFPENNY is fully fit, and able to take up his Full-Back position (15)
Leigh has the added advantage of being one of the best KICKERS in the world, many times putting ALL the points on the score board!
Also Gatland considers him the more EXPERIENCED.

Secondly, Liam sustained an ankle injury, and so sits on the Replacement bench.

RHYS WEBB is back as Scrum Half (9) in place of the older MIKE PHILLIPS. Mike has been relegated to the bench!

JONATHAN DAVIES is now fully fit. So he resumes his place in the Wales Team at Outside Center (13)
This is a good thing, as the tried and tested partnership with Inside Centre JAMIE ROBERTS (12) will come into play!

SCOTT WILLIAMS who covered this position has been left out today, which Gatland was sorry about, but Jonathan Davies is the more experienced.

SAM WARBURTON is back as Captain at number 7.JUSTIN TIPURIC returns to the bench.

DAN BIGGER, also now fully fit returns to Fly-half (10) This is good, as Dan is also an excellent kicker in event of an injury to Leigh.

RHYS PRIESTLAND, who took the 10 position last week in place of Dan Biggar, has returned to The Scarlets this week.
The subject of much controversy, Rhys played really well last week v Fiji, but again his Goal Kicking let him down.
He will return to the squad next week when JAMES HOOK has to return to Gloucester.

ALUN-WYN JONES returns from the bench to his number 5 position. It's now back to the bench for LUKE CHARTERIS.

There was confusion last week over RICHARD HIBBARD'S fitness / availablity. His number 2 (Hooker) position was taken by SCOTT BALDWIN.
The more experienced Hibbard returns this week, with Scott Baldwin on the replacement bench.

HERE AGAIN IS THE WALES TEAM FOR TOMORROW:

Wales:
15. Leigh Halfpenny, 14. Alex Cuthbert, 13. Jonathan Davies, 12. Jamie Roberts
11. George North, 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Rhys Webb
1. Paul James, 2. Richard Hibbard, 3. Samson Lee, 4. Jake Ball, 5. Alun Wyn Jones 6. Dan Lydiate, 7. Sam Warburton (capt), 8. Taulupe Faletau

Replacements:
16. Scott Baldwin, 17. Nicky Smith, 18. Rhodri Jones, 19. Luke Charteris, 20. Justin Tipuric, 21. Mike Phillips, 22. James Hook, 23. Liam Williams



WARREN GATLAND ON NEW ZEALAND:

Gatland has said that his boys are nervous but very excited at the thought of playing The All Blacks tomorrow.

He said that New Zealand has a "strong kicking game", that they are "ruthless with the ball". They put teams under pressure, he said, having the ability to make the most out of nothing.

So Wales really needs to "come to the party" tomorrow. New Zealand have said that they are putting their STRONGEST team out to face Wales, as they realise that Wales are no pushovers.

WE WILL NEED TO PLAY BETTER THAN WE PLAYED AGAINST FIJI!!! :-| :-| :-|



SO COME ON THE WALES TEAM<3

THE WHOLE OF WALES IS BEHIND YOU .... YOU CAN DO IT! :-) :-) :-)


Tomorrow, Saturday November 22nd 2014

WALES v NEW ZEALAND .... Kick-Off 5.30pm
BBC2 / S4C / BBC Radio Wales / BBC Radio Cymru
...and RADIO JEM ;-) ;-) ;-)

AND HERE IS....

.....THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM TO FACE WALES

New Zealand:
Ben Smith; Charles Piutau, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Julian Savea; Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Wyatt Crockett, Dane Coles, Owen Franks, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino.

Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Joe Moody, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Liam Messam, TJ Perenara, Colin Slade, Ryan Crotty.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR WALES v NEW ZEALAND THEME.....



NEW ZEALAND: ULTIMATE JOURNEYS (Documentary)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eS9Cp_j8TA

:-) Lovely Maori Songs :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yblB87dpJGc&list=PLxPT30e94IrmoiOusbsl8TKV5fZt3JIJb

Turn the volume up Jem, just noticed I have a PM, don't panic Jem I will sort it now :-D

THE DATE: OCTOBER 31st 1972

THE PLACE: STRADEY PARK, LLANELLI

THE EVENT: HISTORY IN THE MAKING!

THE DAY THAT LLANELLI..........
.......................... BEAT THE MIGHTY ALL BLACKS!



Just over 32 years ago, the day that inspired a new verse to SOSBAN FACH, occurred!

the verse....

WHO BEAT THE ALL BLACKS?
WHO BEAT THE ALL BLACKS?
WHO BEAT THE ALL BLACKS?
BUT GOOD OLD SOSBAN FACH!


Sosban Fach, is the nickname given to the town of Llanelli (formerly Llanelly) in South West Wales, because of it'sTin-Plating Industry history. Sosban Fach means Little Saucepan in Welsh.
The Traditional Welsh Folk Song Sosban Fach was adopted by the fans of LLANELLI RFC (The Scarlets)



THAT HISTORIC DAY:

On the 31st October 1972, Llanelli came to a standstill. All the shops shut for half day!
20,000 fans had made their way to The Stradey Park to watch their town's rugby team play The All Blacks.

Nobody expected this team to stand a chance against the mighty New Zealand All Blacks. Yet on that historic day, under the coaching of CARWYN JAMES, THE LLANELLI SCARLETS emerged victorious with a 9-3 WIN over the visitors.




THE TEAMS OF THE DAY:

LLANELLI 1972:

Roger Davies; John J. Williams, Roy Bergiers, Ray Gravell, Andy Hill; Phil Bennett, Chico Hopkins; Tony Crocker, Roy Thomas, Barry Llewellyn, Delme Thomas (capt), Derek Quinnell, Tom David, Hefin Jenkins, Gareth Jenkins.

Replacements: Selwyn Williams, Alan James, Chris Charles, Brian Llewellyn, Gwyn Ashby, Meirion Davies.

NEW ZEALAND 1972:

Joe Karam; Bryan Williams, Bruce Robertson, Mark Sayers, Duncan Hales; Bob Burgess, Lindsey Colling; Keith Murdoch, Ron Urlich, Graham Whiting, Andy Haden, Pole Whiting, Alistair Scown, Alan Sutherland, Ian Kirkpatrick (capt).

Replacement: Grant Batty.


The CAPTAIN of the Llanelli side was the legendary DELME THOMAS.

Delme was the backbone that kept this Llanelli side focused, strong and firm against the seemingly unstoppable All Blacks Machine.
He had given an emotive speech to his players before the game, addressing them all individually, which solidified their resolve and belief in themselves.

FLY-HALF (10) was another man who was a huge figure in the world of rugby- PHIL BENNETT. Always an inspiring player!

The sole Try of the day was from Carmarthen born ROY BERGIERS.
He managed to CHARGE-DOWN a clearance kick from New Zealand's Colling and then dive over the Tryline!

Roy's Try was then converted by Phil Bennett to put Llanelli in the unexpected position of leading 6- 0 (Points for a Try had now increased from 3 to 4)

Next came a Penalty Goal for New Zealand's JOE KARAM.
New Zealand had their first points on the board- 6-3.

Fans now would be excused for thinking "Here we go!", but Llanelli "dug in" and fought heroically! They held on, and on, and on!

Then a LONG RANGE PENALTY by ANDY HILL sealed the win for LLANELLI!

The scored board...

LLANELLI 9 ~ SELAND NEWYDD 3


The crowds were ecstatic!!! The pitch was full of fans! They carried "their boys" off the pitch high on their shoulders!

They flowed into the changing rooms! One fan even asking Phil Bennett if he could take home the mud from his boots! :-D

The celebrations continued in Llanelli well into the night!....
..............................and despite Llanelli having over 100 pubs....
....and boasting NOT 1 BUT 2 BREWERIES ....

****THE BEER RAN OUT!*** :-D :-D :-D

THIS DAY WILL ALWAYS REMAIN ETCHED IN THE MEMORIES NOT ONLY OF THE PEOPLE OF LLANELLI ..... BUT OF THE PEOPLE OF WALES! <3 <3



That day inspired the Singer / Comedian MAX BOYCE
to write and perform the song called simply 9-3!


AND HERE IT IS - A MUST SEE CLIP!

9-3 ............. MAX BOYCE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5MViQrHmHY

The rugby players photograph on the beginning of this clip are DEREK QUINNELL
A Hero of THAT DAY! and his family!