Willie Llewellyn

International career

Wales

Llewellyn made his debut for Wales against England in 1899, alongside Welsh greats Billy Bancroft and Gwyn Nicholls. It was an impressive display from Llewellyn and the team, with England thoroughly beaten and Llewellyn scoring four tries. Llewellyn scored again on his second game, which was against Scotland, and should have scored on his third match when he faced Ireland but for a poor choice by teammate Reg Skrimshire. An uncharacteristic fumble within distance of the try line may have proven his detractors correct, but it did not affect the result and his marking of the All Black Billy Wallace was noted as being ruthlessly impressive.

British Lions In 1904 Llewellyn was chosen to tour Australasia alongside fellow Welsh winger Teddy Morgan under the captaincy of Bedell-Sivright. Llewellyn would play in four tests, scoring four tries in the first three tests against Australia.

International games played Wales 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1904, 1905 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905 1905 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1904, 1905

British Isles 1904 1st Test, 1904 2nd Test, 1904 3rd Test 1904

Later career and death Around 1905 Llewellyn opened a pharmacy in his birth town of Tonypandy. It is reported that during the 1910 Tonypandy Riot the rioters left Llewellyn's pharmacy unscathed due to his sporting celebrity.

When Llewellyn died in 1973 in Pontyclun at the age of 95, he was the last of the 1905 Wales team which beat the Original All Blacks. He is remembered as a modest man who was an excellent captain for club and country and was one of the most devastating wing players in Welsh rugby history.