Clive Rowlands: The former schoolteacher who became Welsh rugby stalwart
Clive Rowlands was a former schoolteacher whose mental acuity earned him the nickname Top Cat, and he combined that with an athletic ability to serve Welsh rugby with distinction as a player, coach and administrator.
Rowlands, who has died at the age of 85, had been involved in academia in his early life but it was rugby that proved his main calling and he would go on to have a major influence both on and off the pitch, including being captain and coach of his country.
Born in Upper Cwmtwrch on May 14 1938, Rowlands became a leading figure in the sport during the 60s and 70s, having initially been a part of the first Welsh representative side to tour the southern hemisphere when he travelled with the Welsh School’s team to South Africa.
His full international debut came against England in January 1963, the team losing 13-6 at Cardiff Arms Park in what would be the first of his 14 caps, captaining the side in each of them while building a reputation as an astute tactician and innovative motivator.
Rowlands recalled his pride at representing his country in a 2003 WalesOnline article, saying: “Being born in Wales, I wanted from a very early age to play rugby for Wales.
“On the first cap, to be captain as well was something that stands out.
“The important thing for me is that – playing for Wales and going on to the field wearing the jersey.
“Everybody in my village and Wales wanted to go on there as well. I was the one representing them. That is what stands out in my mind.”
At club level he represented Cwmtwrch, Abercraf, Pontypool, Llanelli and Swansea, and later skippered Wales in their first senior match outside of Europe and their first in the southern hemisphere when they faced East Africa in Nairobi in May 1964, winning 26-8.
His most memorable achievement as a player came when he led the team as they shared the Five Nations title with Scotland after an unbeaten campaign in 1964, following up with a Triple Crown the following year as they narrowly missed out on claiming the title outright.
After retiring from playing at the age of 29, Rowlands was soon elected to the Welsh Rugby Union General Committee and went to coach the national side during a period of success following his appointment in 1968.
Wales won another Five Nations Triple Crown in 1969, and two years later ended a 19-year wait for a Grand Slam.
He would go on to manage the team at the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987, where Wales claimed their best-ever finish of third .
Wales beat Ireland, Canada and Tonga in the pool stage and eliminated England 16-3 in the quarter-finals. They were knocked out in the semi-finals by France before finishing on a high with a narrow win over co-hosts Australia in the third-place play-off.
Following that success, Rowlands also managed the British and Irish Lions on their victorious tour of Australia in 1989.
He became President of the Welsh Rugby Union in the same year and was added to the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame ‘Roll of Honour’ in 2013.
During the 90s Rowlands survived bowel cancer and later became a charity fundraiser to help fight the illness.
Comments on RugbyPass
Fiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to comments