Scarlets legends Delme Thomas, Roy Bergiers and Gareth Jenkins – all members of the side that toppled the mighty All Blacks in 1972 – attended a special ceremony in Cefneithin to honour the great Carwyn James, the mastermind behind that famous day at Stradey Park.
As part of the celebrations on what would have been Carwyn’s 95th birthday, a blue plaque was unveiled at 2 Heol yr Ysgol in Cefneithin, Carwyn’s childhood home in the Gwendraeth Valley village.
Carwyn James is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever Welsh rugby coaches and will also be remembered as the coach of the British & Irish Lions squad that claimed the scalp of New Zealand in a stunning series victory in 1971.
Gareth, Delme and Roy were all part of the Scarlets side in that famous 9-3 win at Stradey, Delme as the inspirational captain, Roy scoring the game’s only try and Gareth taking the field as one of the youngest members of the team.
Born in Cefneithin in 1929, Carwyn sadly passed away in 1983 at the age of 53. The inscription on the plaque reads ‘Arloeswr rygbi. Enaid llengar’ – Rugby visionary. Man of letters’
As part of a day of celebration in the village, Ysgol Cefneithin and Mynydd Mawr Male Voice Choir performed at Cefneithin Primary School prior to the unveiling. There was a minute’ applause before Cefneithin’s first team match at Cae Carwyn James against Amman United. The play ‘Carwyn’ was then performed at Cefneithin Welfare Hall in the evening.
The plaque project was initiated by local businessman Ian Gravell with the wording by author and historian Alun Gibbard.
Pictured are Delme Thomas, Roy Bergiers and Gareth Jenkins with Ian Gravell at the plaque at Heol yr Ysgol.