Courtenay Meredith

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Courtenay Meredith
Birth nameCourtenay Charles Meredith
Date of birth(1926-09-23)23 September 1926
Place of birth Pontypridd, Wales
Date of death30 May 2024(2024-05-30) (aged 97)
SchoolNeath Grammar School
University University College, Cardiff
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
Crynant RFC [1] ()
Neath RFC ()
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1953–1957 Wales [2] 14 (3)
1955 British Lions [3] 4 (0)

Courtenay Meredith (23 September 1926 – 30 May 2024) was a Welsh international rugby union prop who played club rugby for Neath. He won fourteen caps for Wales and also played for invitational club the Barbarians. Meredith was a powerful prop, and was much praised by second row players for his tight packing, which allowed them the opportunity to shove the opposition. He played both tight and loose head prop but preferred tight head.

Contents

On the 1955 British and Irish Lions Tour the all-Welsh front row of Billy Williams, Bryn Meredith and Courtenay Meredith was selected for a Lions test match. This did not occur again until June 2009 when Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones and Matthew Rees were selected as the British and Irish Lions front row for the 2nd Test against South Africa. [4]

Meredith celebrated his 95th birthday in 2021. [5] He was the last survivor from Wales’ last triumph over New Zealand, the 13–8 victory at Cardiff Arms Park on 19 December 1953.

Meredith died on 30 May 2024, at the age of 97. [6] [7]

International matches played
Wales [8]

Bibliography

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References

  1. Ospreys player profiles [ permanent dead link ]
  2. Welsh Rugby Union player profile [ permanent dead link ]
  3. "Courtney Meredith". ESPN.co.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  4. Thomas (1979), pg 133.
  5. "Happy 95th Birthday Courtenay Meredith". WRU. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  6. "Courtenay Meredith: Wales and Lions rugby prop dies aged 97". BBC Sport. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  7. "'Iron Man' Courtenay's death is end of an era". Welsh Rugby. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  8. Smith (1980), pg 469.