| Carwyn James’s greatest claim to fame is that he coached the victorious British Lions rugby team in New Zealand in 1971, a unique achievement. He was the first to acknowledge his debt to Llandovery College, and especially to T.P.Williams, with whom he worked on the rugby field for eleven years.
Carwyn Rees James was born in Cefneithin, and was educated at Gwendraeth Grammar School before going to the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. He taught for two years at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School for Boys, Carmarthen before coming to Llandovery College in September 1956.
He was appointed to teach Welsh, and the Welsh language was central to him, the language of his heart and hearth. He became Housemaster of Ty Cadog, and he made a great contribution to the culture of the school, not least through his coaching of pupils for Urdd Eisteddfod competitions. He had played rugby for his college, London Welsh, Llanelli and for the Navy during national service, and gained two caps for Wales in 1958. In 1964 he took over the coaching of the 1st XV, adding many prestigious schools matches to the fixture list, and he also took charge of the 1st XI from 1967: cricket was a source of great joy and relaxation to Carwyn.
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He moved to Trinity College, Carmarthen in 1968, and for a year he combined lecturing there with teaching at the College. He began coaching Llanelli in 1969, and guided them to a famous win over New Zealand in 1972. In 1974 he concentrated on a career in the media, and also spent some time in Italy, coaching Rovigo to the Italian championship. He died in Amsterdam in 1983. A most generous man who was greatly missed by his many friends.
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