[Other Sport] Barry John RIP

[Questions]

If losing JPR was bad enough now the King has gone. Retired at 27 but was one of the reasons I got into rugby at an early age. Exquisite with the ball in hand and a member of the greatest Welsh team of all time. What a half back partnership with Gareth Edwards.
He was given the nickname The King by New Zealand journalists btw…. not me.

 

[Peppermint Tea]

An absolute genius of a player. V sad, especially after JPR going last month, as you mentioned. RIP King John.

 

[Questions]

An absolute genius of a player. V sad, especially after JPR going last month, as you mentioned. RIP King John.

I’m feeling old PT by the lack of input on this thread,

 

[Peppermint Tea]

I’m feeling old PT by the lack of input on this thread,

You and me both, pal! And it is “egg chasing” and Welsh egg chasing at that. Anyway I can’t be sad today…I just go to Twitter and read how that mob from SE25 are self imploding and I’m roaring with laughter within seconds.

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

If losing JPR was bad enough now the King has gone. Retired at 27 but was one of the reasons I got into rugby at an early age. Exquisite with the ball in hand and a member of the greatest Welsh team of all time. What a half back partnership with Gareth Edwards.
He was given the nickname The King by New Zealand journalists btw…. not me.

Sadly very little video of him playing but what there is shows what a majestic fly half he was. He didn’t so much run as glide, he made it look effort less.

 

[Questions]

You and me both, pal! And it is “egg chasing” and Welsh egg chasing at that. Anyway I can’t be sad today…I just go to Twitter and read how that mob from SE25 are self imploding and I’m roaring with laughter within seconds.

See your point but brilliance in sport is a thing to rejoice in irrespective of nationality

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

See your point but brilliance in sport is a thing to rejoice in irrespective of nationality

I started playing rugby when I was about 12, so mid 70’s when Wales were sublime. Our coach was a Welshman whom waxed lyrical about the Welsh team . He also had a Philips video player so played us recordings ( which I think he got from a friend at the BBC) of Wales when training was called off. Even as an Englishman I loved the brilliance of 1970’s Wales. I mean , what’s not to like!

 

[Questions]

I started playing rugby when I was about 12, so mid 70’s when Wales were sublime. Our coach was a Welshman whom waxed lyrical about the Welsh team . He also had a Philips video player so played us recordings ( which I think he got from a friend at the BBC) of Wales when trading was called off. Even as an Englishman I loved the brilliance of 1970’s Wales. I mean , what’s not to like!

Oh god yeah. The BBC used to cover both internationals on the Saturday and I always watched the Welsh game whoever they were playing. Until Dusty Hare kicked that penalty

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

Oh god yeah. The BBC used to cover both internationals on the Saturday and I always watched the Welsh game whoever they were playing. Until Dusty Hare kicked that penalty

I knew more Welsh players than English …

 

[kojak]

Oh god yeah. The BBC used to cover both internationals on the Saturday and I always watched the Welsh game whoever they were playing. Until Dusty Hare kicked that penalty

The one he missed at Cardiff Arms Park?

 

[kojak]

If losing JPR was bad enough now the King has gone. Retired at 27 but was one of the reasons I got into rugby at an early age. Exquisite with the ball in hand and a member of the greatest Welsh team of all time. What a half back partnership with Gareth Edwards.
He was given the nickname The King by New Zealand journalists btw…. not me.

If I was asked to name a famous,the following would be

Boxing=Muhammad Ali
Football=Pele
Cricket=Garfield Sobers
Rugby=Barry John

 

[vegster]

Sad to lose another one of the giants of the game...there was a nice little tribute to JPR at half time in the Wales v Scotland game Saturday evening..

 

[el punal]

I knew more Welsh players than English …

That’s probably because they retained the same players match after match, season after season. Unlike England who selected players like a rugby version of a pick ’n mix store.

 

[London Irish]

He was a legend of the sport.

Here's a challenge - was he the greatest "early retirement" in the history of ALL sport, not just rugby? Struggling to think of anyone else greater than him who did what he did

 

[Gwylan]

Absolutely gutted at this. He was my first sporting hero - I had his photo on my wall as a child. The Barry John book of rugby was a cherished Christmas present and I remember being aghast at his early retirement. In later years, I was lucky enough to meet him twice: it was like being in the presence of royalty.

I got home yesterday evening after reffing two games of rugby (and it was Barry John who really sold the sport to me) to be met by the news of his death and a little while later, the sudden death of old working colleague of mine, someone I'd know for 40 years. What a reminder of the fragility of life

Gorffwys mewn heddwch, Barry - Y Brenin.

 

[Brovion]

"Edwards ..... to Barry John" How many times did I hear Bill McClaren say that? Like JPR John was revered in England, so God knows what it must have been like in Wales (Indeed I believe that contributed to his early retirement as apparently he didn't like all the attention).

 

[Saladpack Seagull]

One of the greatest sportsmen of all time.