- Meredith received his first cap in a historic match towards New Zealand in 1953
- Neath prop received 18 worldwide caps, together with 4 on the 1955 Lions Tour
- Pontypridd native was a part of all-Welsh entrance row for travellers in South Africa
Former Wales worldwide and British and Irish Lions front-rower Courtenay Meredith has died on the age of 97.
Meredith was the oldest dwelling Welsh worldwide, and the one surviving member of the final Wales aspect to beat New Zealand, which the participant did on solely his second cap in 1953.
The previous Neath prop would go on to win 16 extra worldwide caps, 4 with the British and Irish Lions, for whom he featured in 1955.
Assured at each tight and loosehead prop, Meredith featured for Neath after transferring from Crynant, and was later made captain for the 1957-58 season, the final earlier than his retirement.
‘Iron Man’ was described by the Welsh Rugby Affiliation as ‘roughly turning his again on rugby’ after leaving the membership, because the WRU handed on their ‘honest condolences to his family and friends’ on Thursday night.
Former Wales and British and Irish Lions worldwide Courtenay Meredith has died at age 97
The entrance rower (center row, left) featured within the final Wales aspect to beat New Zeland in 1953
Meredith featured in all 4 of the matches within the Lions’ Tour of South Africa in 1955 (center row, left)
Meredith is ranked extremely among the many greatest Welsh entrance row forwards of all time, with then-WRU president Gerald Davies heralding his titanic achievements on the event of his ninety fifth birthday two years in the past.
‘He was one of many actually world class gamers within the Welsh pack within the Fifties,’ Davies mentioned, ‘and was the cornerstone of the primary all-Welsh entrance row for the British & Irish Lions in South Africa in 1955.’
Through the mid-50s Tour, Wales drew with South Africa two-all within the four-match sequence, with Meredith taking part in each tie.
The subsequent time an all-Welsh entrance row featured on a Lions Tour came visiting 50 years later, when Gethin Jons, Matthew Rees, and Adam Jones lined up collectively in 2009.
