Rugby

Dear Editor

A book for Christmas

If anyone has a rugby fan in the family, then make their Christmas and treat them to a great new book by a renowned Welsh author. I have a number of the author’s books and they are extremely well researched and a great read. His latest book is effectively a history of Welsh rugby from the beginning to the last ‘Golden Era’ of the 1970s, told through the medium of the Taff’s Well and Cardiff rugby clubs. Not only are great international players and games through the ages featured, but we see how the Depression forced Welsh players to ‘head North’ to feed their families. Terry Breverton explains why, for over a century, Cardiff were regarded as ‘in the rugby world’ and entwines the unique story of the eight Williams brothers who played for Cardiff over a period of 40 years. Not only does he cover the careers of Bleddyn Williams, who captained Cardiff and Wales to defeat the 1953 All Blacks, and his seven brothers, but also their war hero uncle Roy Roberts MM and their cousin, Wales captain Bill Tamplin, both of whom who also played with the brothers for Cardiff. Just imagine, eight boys and four girls being brought up in a small rented terraced house in the tiny, polluted village of Taff’s Well, and all of the brothers going on to play for the acknowledged ‘greatest‘ rugby club. Three of the brothers had their rugby halted for 6 years because of war, and three for two years because of National Service, yet they still managed an incredible 1,480 games for Cardiff. The book is a massive piece of entertaining research and information, 650 pages, and is called ‘The Greatest Sporting Family in History: The Blue and Black Brothers‘. A wonderful Christmas gift for Scottish, Irish, English, and Welsh fans, indeed anyone who loves the game of rugby.

Dave Haskell

Brithdir

Cardigan

Tel: 01239 614671