Glyn Shaw
Welsh rugby union and rugby league footballer
About Glyn Shaw
Lived 1951 – 2022 (aged 71). Glyn Shaw was a British rugby league player and rugby union player.
Glyndwr Shaw (11 April 1951 – 10 May 2022) was a Welsh dual-code international rugby union, and rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played representative level rugby union for Wales, and at club level for Neath RFC, as a prop Warrington and Rochdale Hornets, as a , or .
Background Shaw was born in Rhigos, Wales.
Playing career Rugby Union Shaw started his career at seven sisters RFC in the Dulais valley at junior and youth level. Shaw first appeared for Neath in 1970 and in 1972 he won his first caps for Wales in 1972 against New Zealand. A further 11 caps followed, in 1973 against England, Scotland, Ireland, France, and Australia, in 1974 against Scotland, Ireland, France, and England, and in 1977 against Ireland, and France. In 1972 he was a member of Neath squad that won the inaugural WRU Challenge Cup beating Llanelli 15–9.
Rugby League Despite being appointed captain at Neath in 1977, Shaw changed codes and signed for rugby league side Widnes in November of the same year. He made his début for Widnes in a midweek evening match against New Hunslet at the Leeds Greyhound Stadium on Elland Road, Leeds, where he entertained the crowd even before taking to the pitch, by doing "one arm pressups" during his warm up. Almost immediately he was selected for the won caps for Welsh national team against France and Australia in 1978. Further caps for Wales followed in 1980 against France, and England, in 1981 against England, in 1982 against Australia, and in 1984 against England. In 1980 he was chosen to play for Great Britain against New Zealand.
Three losing Player's Trophy finals also featured during his time at Widnes. Shaw played right- in Widnes' 4-9 defeat by Warrington in the 1977–78 Players No.6 Trophy Final at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 28 January 1978, played right- in the 16-4 victory over Warrington in the 1978–79 John Player Trophy Final at Knowsley Road, on Saturday 28 April 1979, played right- in the 0-6 defeat by Bradford Northern in the 1979–80 John Player Trophy Final at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 5 January 1980.
In November 1981, Shaw left Widnes for Wigan for a transfer fee of £25,000. The only major final he played for Wigan was at left- in Wigan's 15-4 victory over Leeds in the 1982–83 John Player Trophy Final at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 22 January 1983.
In November 1984 Shaw left Wigan for Warrington for whom he played until November the following year. A transfer to Rochdale Hornets followed but after only eight appearances for the Hornets he retired early in 1986.
Personal life Glyn Shaw had two children, a son and a daughter, by his first marriage to Linda plus two daughters by his second marriage to Janie. Shaw died, aged 71, on 10 May 2022.
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Important facts
People in Glyn Shaw's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Glyn Shaw's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Glyn Shaw?
Welsh rugby union and rugby league footballer (1951–2022)
When was Glyn Shaw born?
Glyn Shaw was born on 11 April 1951 in Rhigos.
When did Glyn Shaw die?
Glyn Shaw died on 10 May 2022.
What was Glyn Shaw's occupation?
Glyn Shaw was a rugby league player and rugby union player.
What nationality was Glyn Shaw?
Glyn Shaw was British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Glyn Shaw. https://biography.guide/glyn-shaw/
MLA: "Glyn Shaw." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/glyn-shaw/.
Chicago: "Glyn Shaw." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/glyn-shaw/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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