Welsh rugby great Dr Jack Matthews dies (From South Wales Argus)
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Welsh rugby great Dr Jack Matthews dies
10:59pm Wednesday 18th July 2012 in Latest Rugby
WALES and British Lions great Dr Jack Matthews has died at the age of 92.
Matthews was capped 17 times by Wales and six times by the Lions on the 1950 tour to New Zealand and Australia.
He formed a legendary midfield partnership with Bleddyn Williams both on the international stage and with Cardiff.
Matthews was known for his steely defence, a facet of his game that led to him earning the nickname ‘Iron Man’ from the New Zealand public for his uncompromising exploits with the Lions.
Although he was known for his time with the Blue and Blacks in the capital, Matthews made one appearance for Newport in 1949.
He played in the centre in a 10-3 win against Falmouth before lining up against the Black and Ambers for Penzance the following day.
It wasn’t just on the rugby field that he was a fearsome opponent; while stationed at RAF St Athan in 1943 he went up against Rocky Marciano in the boxing ring.
Marciano, who went on to become world heavyweight champion and never lost a fight, was unable to beat Matthews in a three-round amateur contest.
A GP by trade, Matthews was team doctor on the Lions tour to South Africa in 1980 and was made an OBE in 1981.
corpardguy says...
12:45am Thu 19 Jul 12
People like him made the game as great as it is in Wales by making ordinary working people wanting to play and not just keeping it in the public schools like the Bul Saith did.