International career
Cleaver was first selected for Wales during the 1947 Five Nations Championship, the first official game for the Welsh team after World War II. His first game was against England at the Cardiff Arms Park and he lined up alongside fellow Cardiff players Matthews, Williams, Evans and captain Haydn Tanner. Unsurprisingly, both Wales and their first opponents, England, were heavy with new caps, and although Wales lost, Cleaver played in all four games during the tournament. He scored his first try for Wales in the 1947 game against Scotland, a match which Wales won 22–8. In the 1950 campaign, in which Wales won the Grand Slam, Cleaver played in all four games, and scored a drop goal against Scotland.International matches played
WalesSmith (1980), p. 471. * 1947 * 1947, 1948, 1950 * 1947, 1948, 1950 *British Lions
During the 1950 Lions tour, Cleaver played ten provincial matches and in three test games against the All Blacks. For some unknown reason Cleaver was chosen as one of the two full-backs on the tour, this was not his normal position. The other full back, Norton of Ireland, broke his arm early on and Cleaver was forced to play in every match in that position until Lewis Jones arrived as Norton's replacement. Cleaver never played a game on the tour as fly-half, but did play in three of the test matches against New Zealand showing good quality play opposite the All Blacks' Bob Scott. On the return trip the team stopped to play the national team ofReferences
Bibliography
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cleaver, Billy 1921 births 2003 deaths Barbarian F.C. players Bridgend RFC players British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Wales Cardiff RFC players Newbridge RFC players Rugby union fly-halves Rugby union players from Treorchy Treorchy RFC players Wales international rugby union players Welsh rugby union players