Barry John

Barry John

John in 2011
Date of birth	(1945-01-06)6 January 1945
Place of birth	Cefneithin, Wales
Date of death	4 February 2024(2024-02-04) (aged 79)
Place of death	Cardiff, Wales
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight	11 st 11 lb (165 lb; 75 kg)
School	Gwendraeth Grammar School
University	Trinity College, Carmarthen
Notable relative(s)	Derek Quinnell (brother-in-law)[1] Scott, Craig and Gavin Quinnell (nephews)[1]
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1962–1964 Cefneithin RFC () 1964–1967 Llanelli RFC () 1967–1972 Cardiff RFC () 1966–1970 Barbarian F.C. () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1966–1972 Wales 25 (90) 1968–1971 British Lions 5 (30)

Barry John (6 January 1945 – 4 February 2024) was a Welsh rugby union fly-half who played in the 1960s and early 1970s during the amateur era of the sport. John began his rugby career as a schoolboy playing for his local team Cefneithin RFC before switching to the first-class west Wales team Llanelli RFC in 1964. Whilst at Llanelli, John was selected for the Wales national team—as a replacement for David Watkins—to face a touring Australian team.

In 1967, John left Llanelli RFC for Cardiff RFC where he formed a partnership with Gareth Edwards: one of the most famous half-back pairings in world rugby. From 1967, John and Edwards made an inseparable partnership with rugby selectors, being chosen to play together at all levels of the sport, for Cardiff, Wales, the Barbarians and in 1968 for the British Lions' tour of South Africa. The tour ended prematurely for John when he suffered a broken collarbone in the first Test match against the South African national team.

In 1971, the Wales national team entered what is considered their second 'Golden Age', with a team rich in experience and talent. John was part of the team that won the 1971 Five Nations Championship, the first time Wales had achieved a Grand Slam win since 1952. He then cemented his reputation as one of the sport's greatest players with his pivotal role in the British and Irish Lions winning tour over New Zealand in 1971. On the 1971 tour, John played in all four Tests, playing some of his finest rugby and finishing as the Lions' top Test scorer.

John won 25 caps for the Wales national team and 5 for the British Lions. His excellent balance whilst running—along with precision kicking—made him one of the great players of the modern era. He retired from rugby at the age of 27, as Wales's highest points scorer, citing the pressure of fame and expectation for his decision.