Carwyn Rees James was a Welsh rugby union player and coach.
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16 Facts About Carwyn James
2.
Carwyn James won two Welsh international caps but is most famous for his coaching achievements with Llanelli, the 1971 British Lions and the Barbarians, with all of whom he beat the All Blacks.
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3.
Carwyn James worked as a Welsh teacher by profession and later a lecturer at Trinity College, Carmarthen.
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4.
Carwyn James played fly-half for Llanelli, playing his first game while still at Gwendraeth School.
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5.
Carwyn James was capped for Wales twice in 1958, the second time at centre, but would probably have gained more caps had he not been in competition with Cliff Morgan for the fly-half spot.
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6.
Carwyn James was coach of the 1971 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, the only Lions side ever to win a series against the All Blacks.
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7.
Carwyn James coached them to the famous victory over the All Blacks at Stradey Park, Llanelli, in 1972.
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8.
Carwyn James then coached them to four Welsh Cups between 1973 and 1976.
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9.
Carwyn James coached the Barbarians to victory over the All Blacks in 1973, including being credited with man management to stimulate Phil Bennett to make his famous sidestepping run that day.
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10.
Carwyn James then coached in Italy, at Rugby Rovigo, from 1977 to 1980, winning a title.
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11.
Carwyn James never coached the Welsh national side, largely because of his belief that the coach should chair the selectors' meetings and be responsible for choosing the other selectors.
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12.
Carwyn James coaching style was said to involve quiet words with players and half-suggestions rather than orders.
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13.
Carwyn James was a strong believer in attacking rugby, with the attitude that if a team had possession of the ball it should be able to attack, regardless of the position on the field.
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14.
Carwyn James was a nationalist and stood as Plaid Cymru candidate in Llanelli in the 1970 General Election.
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15.
Carwyn James never married, and is believed by many to have struggled with loneliness and possibly been homosexual.
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16.
In January 1983,53-year-old Carwyn James was on a private visit to the Netherlands and staying alone at the Hotel Krasnapolsky in Dam Square, Amsterdam.
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