Barry John, ‘The King’ of Welsh rugby, dies at 79

Barry John, often called the “King” of Welsh rugby throughout a golden period and arguably the game’s first celebrity, died on Sunday, February 4, 2024. He was 79.

“Barry John died peacefully at this time on the College Hospital of Wales surrounded by his loving spouse and 4 youngsters,” mentioned a press release from his household on Sunday. “He was a loving Dadcu (grandfather) to his 11 grandchildren and much-loved brother.”

John shot to fame after guiding the British and Irish Lions to a collection victory over New Zealand in 1971, a interval when rugby union was nonetheless beginner. However the fly-half hung up his boots on the age of 27, unable to deal with the eye that adopted the oval ball’s then-equivalent of Manchester United’s George Finest. “Barry was nearly reaching his zenith then. He ought to have stayed in rugby a damned sight longer than he did. The world by no means noticed the most effective of Barry John,” Wales and Lions No 8 Mervyn Davies mentioned in Peter Jackson’s ebook, the Lions of Wales.

John, born in Cefneithin, northwest of Swansea, in 1945, first performed first-class rugby for Llanelli earlier than shifting to Cardiff in 1967, the place he notably partnered legendary scrum-half Gareth Edwards. John made his debut for Wales in a 14-11 defeat by Australia in 1966 and went on to win 25 caps, taking part in alongside scrum-half Edwards in all however two of his internationals.

‘Conductor of the orchestra’

John was first chosen for the Lions on their 1968 tour of South Africa, nevertheless it was a short-lived expertise as he broke a collarbone early within the first Take a look at in opposition to the Springboks. John rebounded a 12 months later in a Welsh workforce boasting debutants J.P.R. Williams and Mervyn Davies, and which received the 1969 5 Nations Championship. Wales shared the match with France a 12 months later earlier than sealing their first Grand Slam since 1952.

Gamers in that 1971 Championship-winning aspect, nonetheless feted as probably the greatest ever fielded by Wales, turned family names. Then got here the famed Lions tour to New Zealand, when John performed in 17 of the 26 tour matches and cemented his fame because the “conductor of the orchestra”.

His pinpoint kicking was important because the Lions notched up a 9-3 victory over the All Blacks within the first Take a look at. New Zealand claimed a 22-12 win within the second earlier than the Lions received the third 13-3. A 14-all draw within the fourth and ultimate Take a look at sealed a collection win for the vacationers. John was hailed by New Zealand media as “The King”. He made simply three extra appearances for Wales and a memorable finale at his Cardiff Arms Park floor: a Barry John XV versus a Carwyn James XV, the latter the 1971 Lions coach and a local of the identical village. “I made a decision earlier than the 5 Nations that I’d end on the finish of the season,” John mentioned.

“We would achieved one thing fairly spectacular collectively just a few months earlier, so in my thoughts, it was meant to be this manner, the right finale, as an alternative of letting the season drift after which making my announcement. “The one ones I confided in have been Gareth and Gerald (Davies). I felt I owed them that, pulled them to 1 aspect simply earlier than kick-off and mentioned ‘Hear, thanks for being nice team-mates however that is my final recreation’.”

‘Rugby is an artwork kind’

John, a magician within the pink shirt of Wales and the Lions, surprised the Welsh public by retiring, a choice he mentioned was appropriate, but additionally not with out remorse. “I used to be changing into an increasing number of indifferent from actual individuals. Others thought it was humorous, not me,” John mentioned of the celebrity that his pivotal taking part in expertise had garnered. “In the long run, it simply wore me down. I knew I wasn’t mentally or bodily proper for prime rugby.”

He went on to work in finance, for a department of Midland Financial institution, earlier than working as a radio commentator and newspaper pundit.

Did he have any regrets about hanging up the boots at 27? “Sure, in fact I did. I by no means wished to complete taking part in, however circumstances have been that you would be able to’t simply destroy your self,” he mentioned. “The remorse, which I nonetheless have, was not ending my profession, however having no choice. I felt I had a minimum of a pair extra years on the prime, however provided that I might be me and the superstar factor was getting in the way in which of that.” As for the trendy model of rugby union? John argued that it had develop into “a science: gamers put on monitoring units and should tick sure containers”. “It’s a pity that magic isn’t one among them. I see rugby as an artwork kind, a battle of wits.”

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