Courtney Meredith

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Courtenay Meredith
Birth nameCourtenay Charles Meredith
Date of birth (1926-09-23) 23 September 1926 (age 97)
Place of birthPontypridd, Wales
SchoolNeath Grammar School
UniversityUniversity College, Cardiff
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Crynant RFC[1]
Neath RFC
()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1953–1957
1955
Wales[2]
British Lions[3]
14
4
(3)
(0)

Courtenay Meredith (born 23 September 1926) is a former Welsh international rugby union prop who played club rugby for Neath. He won fourteen caps for Wales and also played for invitational club the Barbarians. Meredith was a powerful prop, and was much praised by second row players for his tight packing, which allowed them the opportunity to shove the opposition. He played both tight and loose head prop but preferred tight head.

On the 1955 British and Irish Lions Tour the all-Welsh front row of Billy Williams, Bryn Meredith and Courtenay Meredith was selected for a Lions test match. This did not occur again until June 2009 when Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones and Matthew Rees were selected as the British and Irish Lions front row for the 2nd Test against South Africa.[4]

Meredith celebrated his 95th birthday in 2021.[5] He is the only survivor from Wales’ last triumph over New Zealand, the 13–8 victory at Cardiff Arms Park on 19 December 1953.

International matches played
Wales[6]

Bibliography[edit]

  • Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.
  • Thomas, Wayne (1979). A Century of Welsh Rugby Players. Ansells Ltd.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ospreys player profiles[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Welsh Rugby Union player profile[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Courtney Meredith". ESPN.co.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  4. ^ Thomas (1979), pg 133.
  5. ^ "Happy 95th Birthday Courtenay Meredith". WRU. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  6. ^ Smith (1980), pg 469.