Gareth Edwards

Biography

Gareth Edwards is widely regarded as the greatest rugby player who ever lived, and the try he scored for the Barbarians against New Zealand in 1973 is the greatest try ever scored. Starting from behind his own posts, the ball passed through seven pairs of hands before Edwards dived into the corner in a move of such spontaneous brilliance that it has been replayed millions of times. But that try was not an aberration — it was the distillation of everything Edwards brought to the game: vision, speed, courage, and an instinct for the moment. As Wales' scrum-half through their golden era of the 1970s, he was the heartbeat of a side that won Five Nations Grand Slams with a style of rugby that made the Principality sing. He played all 53 of his Tests consecutively, never dropped, never injured enough to miss a match — a record of availability that matches his consistency.

Career Highlights

• 53 consecutive Tests for Wales (never dropped)
• 20 Test tries from scrum-half
• *That* Barbarians try vs New Zealand (1973)
• 3 Five Nations Grand Slams
• Widely voted greatest rugby player of all time

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