Carwyn Rees James (2nd November 1929 - 10th January 1983) was a Welsh rugby union player and coach. He won two Welsh international caps but is most famous for his coaching achievements for both Llanelli and the British Lions.
It's unbelievable how overlooked he was. He basically did the double over the mighty ABs in 1971-72, home and away, with the Lions and Llanelli. How he didn't become Wales coach God only knows. These days international sides would've been falling over themselves to appoint him as coach. His life is like a Greek tragedy in a way.
For Carwyn to go in and coach Wales under his terms would have shaken the WRU committee and the selectors to their core. Unlike today where the coach picks his squad, then it simply would not be allowed. A man ahead of his time indeed.
Two sorry three amazing Welsh No 10s interviewed here. BJ, CM, and CJ. What an amazing man and a similar tale to Alan Turing another intelligent gentle creative man way ahead of his time. I hope that those WRU committee men have bowed their heads in shame ever since.
It's unbelievable how overlooked he was. He basically did the double over the mighty ABs in 1971-72, home and away, with the Lions and Llanelli. How he didn't become Wales coach God only knows. These days international sides would've been falling over themselves to appoint him as coach. His life is like a Greek tragedy in a way.
Coached the Lions, Llanelli and Barbarians to beat the All Blacks..no coach has got anywhere near...a champion of welsh literature and politics, fluent Russian speaker, coaching approach too radical for WRU...likely he was gay lonely and depressed..oh Wales what have you done....?
If Carwyn James had been appointed Wales Coach, they would not only have won 5 Grand Slams in a row but also would have beaten New Zealand for the first time since 1951.
I think a lot of the members of the WRU were jealous of his success and proposals - he was ahead of his time; he knew every aspect of the game and the players'' strengths and weaknesses at Llanelli and Lions ! He was a rare gift for that sport !
From a Scotsman, yes. You are so right, that’s where Carwyn James would have taken the Welsh Rugby team: their talent and his brilliance. Respect 🏴
From a Scotsman, yes. You are so right, that’s where Carwyn James would have taken the Welsh Rugby team: their talent and his brilliance. Respect 🏴
He was a refined sophistocated man, he exuded culture and intelligence. He spoke beautifully with a superb command of language. He recall how the English actor Robert Hardy described Richard Burton's family as having great style and nobility not the nobility of ermine but something much more visceral. Carwen was cut from the same cloth. He struggled with his homosexuality and this he never really came to terms with.
A quiet thoughtful sophisticated man. A scholar. He related to the game and to his players. Imagine this opening to JPRs original autobiography. He was like Pwell Prince of Dyfed. Riding magnificent and magistic in the mists of the mabinogi.
I feel that Carwyn's terms had arisen from his feeling of being disrespected and yet still wanted the honour of being Wales coach but could only do so in sharing the disrespect in return. In any case a great loss in Carwyn's not being appointed.
