Welsh Rugby's 50 hardest men

Western Mail columnist Simon Thomas has collated a list of Welsh rugby’s 50 hardest players ever. Not surprisingly, some former Pontypridd stalwarts feature, with seven ‘Valley Commandos’ making the grade…

“Forged in steelworks, hewn from the coal-face, Welsh rugby’s hard men have always shown their mettle on and off the field. But who was the toughest? Simon Thomas profiles the players who inspired their team-mates and terrified opponents….”

1.Bobby Windsor (Pontypool)

2.J.P.R. Williams (London Welsh / Bridgend)

3.Scott Gibbs (Neath / Swansea)

4.Dai Bishop (Pontypool)

5.Dr Jack Matthews (Cardiff)

6.Brian Thomas (Neath)

7.Terry Cobner (Pontypool)

8.Brian Williams (Neath)

9.Paul Ringer (Ebbw Vale / Llanelli)

10.John Perkins (Pontypool)

11.Geoff Wheel (Swansea)

12.Garin Jenkins (Pontypridd / Pontypool / Swansea)

13.Mark Jones (Neath / Ebbw Vale)

14.Charlie Faulkner (Pontypool)

15.Ray Gravell (Llanelli)

16.Norman Gale (Llanelli)

17.Graham Price (Pontypool)

18.Dale McIntosh (Pontypridd)

19.Dai Young (Swansea / Cardiff)

20.Jeff Squire (Pontypool)

21.Del Haines (Newport)

22.Mark Perego (Llanelli)

23.Ian Robinson (Cardiff)

24.Ray Prosser (Pontypool)

25.John Hickey (Cardiff)

26.Chris Jones (Treorchy)

27.Terry Holmes (Cardiff)

28.Clive Burgess (Ebbw Vale)

29.Phil Pugh (Neath)

30.Haydn Mainwaring (Swansea)

31.Omri Jones (Aberavon)

32.Jim Scarlett (Pontypridd)

33.Randall Davies (Neath)

34.Nigel Bezani (Pontypridd)

35.Richard Moriarty (Swansea)

36.Scott Quinell (Llanelli)

37.Paul Moriarty (Swansea)

38.John Devereux (Bridgend)

39.Denzil Earland (Pontypridd)

40.Dai Morris (Neath)

41.Rees Stephens (Neath)

42.Staff Jones (Pontypool)

43.Steele Lewis (POntypridd)

44.Arthur Hughes (Newbridge)

45.Hemi Taylor (Newbridge / Cardiff)

46.Gethin Jenkins (Pontypridd / Blues)

47.Chris Huish (Pontypool)

48.Courtney Meredith (Neath)

49.Kevin Moseley (Pontypool / Newport)

50.Rex Richards (Cross Keys)

*The quest is on to identify Pontypridd RFC’s top ten hard men, past and present.

Draw up your list and e-mail it on to:

The results will be collated and published in a forthcoming matchday magazine.