Gareth Edwards

Gareth Edwards – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Learn about Sir Gareth Edwards — legendary Welsh rugby player, former captain, and one of the sport’s all-time greats. Explore his biography, achievements, style, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Sir Gareth Owen Edwards (born July 12, 1947) is widely regarded as one of the greatest rugby union players in history. A consummate scrum-half, he played for Wales and the British & Irish Lions during Wales’s golden era in the 1960s and 1970s. His consistency, tactical insight, athletic skill, and the iconic “that try” for the Barbarians cemented his place in rugby lore.

Below is a comprehensive look at his life, career, influence, and some of his memorable quotations.

Early Life and Family

Gareth Edwards was born in Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Glamorgan, Wales, the son of a miner.

His sporting promise earned him a scholarship to Millfield Public School in Somerset, England.

Rugby Career & Achievements

International Debut and Wales Career

• Edwards made his first international appearance for Wales on April 1, 1967, against France in Paris, at age 19.

• Between 1967 and 1978, he earned 53 consecutive caps for Wales—never dropped or replaced due to form or injury.

• He scored 20 tries in those 53 test matches.

• At age 20 (in 1968), he became Wales’s youngest-ever captain in a match against Scotland.

• Under his tenure, Wales won the Five Nations Championship seven times, including three Grand Slams (1971, 1976, 1978).

British & Irish Lions

• Edwards also represented the British & Irish Lions on 10 test matches, during tours in 1971 (New Zealand) and 1974 (South Africa).

• The 1971 Lions side that beat the All Blacks in New Zealand is among the most celebrated.

“That Try”

One of the defining moments of Edwards’s career is the try he scored for the Barbarians against the All Blacks in 1973 (at Cardiff Arms Park). This try involved multiple phases and passes, and Edwards finishing with a diving score. It is often called “that try” and is remembered as one of the greatest in rugby history.

The play included a deep kick, evasion by Phil Bennett, sequences through several players (Pullin, Dawes, David, Quinnell), culminating in Edwards’s finish.

The moment was immortalized in commentary and public memory; many rugby fans regard it as a symbol of excellence in fluid attacking rugby.

Club & Domestic Rugby

• Edwards played for Cardiff RFC, making 195 appearances and scoring 69 tries during his time there.

• He also played for other representative sides including Barbarians, World XV, and regional teams.

Post-Playing Career & Honors

• After retiring from international play in 1978, Edwards became a media figure—he commentates for the BBC and the Welsh-language channel S4C.

• He also took roles in administration and business: director in the Cardiff Blues region, director at a Mercedes dealership (Euro Commercials Ltd), and president of the Cardiff Institute for the Blind.

• In 1997, he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame.

• He was awarded CBE in 2007 for services to sport.

• In 2015, he was knighted (becoming Sir Gareth Edwards) for services to sport and charitable work.

Public and peer recognition is exceptional: in a 2003 poll by Rugby World, international players voted Edwards the greatest player of all time.

Style, Strengths & Influence

• Edwards combined speed, strength, agility, and rugby intellect, making him a complete package in his era.

• His vision and passing ability were central: as scrum-half, he orchestrated play, delivered tactical passes, and guided backline attacks.

• He was also durable and consistent, evidenced by 53 consecutive caps, a rare feat in rugby.

• His influence on Welsh rugby is profound: he was a key pillar of the Welsh teams’ dominance in the 1970s and is often held as a benchmark for greatness in Welsh sport.

• Down the years, many teammates and successors regard him as a standard — his presence in a team could shift belief and performance.

• A statue of Edwards stands in St David’s Centre in Cardiff.

Famous Quotes of Gareth Edwards

While Edwards is not especially known as a prolific quotable figure in the way writers or philosophers are, a few sayings are attributed to him, often informally or in interviews:

• “After JPR Williams was involved in a road traffic accident: ‘Bloody typical, isn’t it? The car’s a write-off. The tanker’s a write-off. But JPR comes out of it all in one piece.’”

This quote reflects his dry wit and concern for teammates more than grand philosophy.

Because his legacy is predominantly in performance, rugby commentary, and public reverence, many quotations about him come from others praising his influence and impact.

Lessons from Gareth Edwards

From Edwards’s life and career, several broader lessons emerge:

1. Consistency yields greatness
   His streak of 53 consecutive caps shows how sustained excellence can define a legacy.

2. Versatility matters
   As a scrum-half, he wasn’t just a link—but a creator: combining passing, speed, decision-making, and vision.

3. Perform in big moments
   His “that try” is emblematic: when opportunity arises, excellence can echo for decades.

4. Humility and influence
   Despite reverence, Edwards is remembered for being grounded and contributing off the field (commentary, administration, charity).

5. Peak performance in team context
   His greatness was magnified by the company he had (Barry John, Phil Bennett, Gerald Davies, JPR Williams) and the era in which Wales dominated.

6. Legacy outlasts era
   Though the world of rugby has changed — professionalism, rule evolution, athletic science — Edwards’s name still surfaces in debates of best of all time, showing that greatness transcends era.

Conclusion

Sir Gareth Edwards is more than a Welsh rugby icon — he is a touchstone for what excellence in sport can look like: disciplined, creative, resilient, and consistent. His try for the Barbarians in 1973 remains a symbol of fluid, imaginative rugby; his decades-long reputation continues to inspire players and fans alike.