Ray Prosser

Thomas Raymond Prosser (2 March 1927 – 22 November 2020) was a Welsh international rugby union prop who played club rugby for Pontypool and was capped 22 times for Wales. Prosser also represented the British Lions in their 1959 tour of Australia and New Zealand, and played invitational rugby for the Barbarians. He is often remembered more for his coaching of an extremely successful Pontypool side during the 1970s and 1980s.

Prosser died on 22 November 2020, at the age of 93.

Rugby playing career Prosser played much of his club rugby for Pontypool, whom he joined in the late 1950s. At club level, he was placed mainly in the second row, but later switched to the front row during his international career. Prosser was an enthusiastic student of rugby and believed in regular playing and training. His playing style was robust and aggressive, whose work rate in the scrum and mauls was tireless. Prosser was often seen as over-vigorous, if not dirty, in some aspects of his play; especially in line outs where he would sometimes use his arms illegally on his opposite jumper. and was also homesick during the long five-month tour. He also suffered an injury early in the tour, but after his recovery, he played with his normal good form, impressing in the game against North Auckland. Prosser was chosen to play in the final test against New Zealand, which the Lions won.

International matches played Wales 1958 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960 1960

British Lions 1959

Coaching career Prosser was a leading committee man at Pontypool Rugby Club and after retiring from playing rugby was given the role of coaching the first team in 1969. Prosser brought the same commitment he practiced in his own personal fitness and training into his coaching techniques. His methods were revolutionary, producing one of the strongest Pontypool teams in the club's history. During Prosser's time at Pontypool, he oversaw the 'Pontypool Front Row', made up of Graham Price, Bobby Windsor and Charlie Faulkner, the three players represented Wales on 19 occasions. The players credited Prosser's commitment to fitness as a major factor in their rugby development. Prosser coached the Pontypool first team for 18 years until 1987, during which they were unofficial Welsh club champions on five occasions including a hat trick between 1983–1986.