Courtenay Meredith (23 September 1926 – 30 May 2024) was a Welsh international

rugby union Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...

prop who played club rugby for

Neath Neath (; ) is a market town and Community (Wales), community situated in the Neath Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot County Borough, Wales. The town had a population of 50,658 in 2011. The community of the parish of Neath had a population of 19,2 ...

. He won fourteen caps for

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

and also played for invitational club the

Barbarians A barbarian is a person or tribe of people that is perceived to be primitive, savage and warlike. Many cultures have referred to other cultures as barbarians, sometimes out of misunderstanding and sometimes out of prejudice. A "barbarian" may ...

. 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 The British & Irish Lions is a rugby union team selected from players eligible for the national teams of England national rugby union team, England, Ireland national rugby union team, Ireland, Scotland national rugby union team, Scotland, and ...

Tour the all-Welsh front row of

Billy Williams Billy Leo Williams (born June 15, 1938) is an American former left fielder and coach in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played from 1959 to 1976, almost entirely for the Chicago Cubs. A six-time All-Star, Williams was named the 1961 National L ...

, Bryn Meredith and Courtenay Meredith was selected for a Lions test match. This did not occur again until June 2009 when

Gethin Jenkins Gethin Jenkins (born 17 November 1980) is a Welsh former professional rugby union player who played as a prop for Pontypridd, Celtic Warriors, Cardiff Blues and Toulon. At international level, he won 129 caps for Wales. On his 105th appearance ...

, Adam Jones and

Matthew Rees Matthew Rees (born 9 December 1980) is a Welsh former professional rugby union footballer who played as a hooker. After beginning his career with Tonyrefail RFC and Merthyr RFC, he made his professional debut for Pontypridd RFC in 2001. With t ...

were selected as the

front row for the 2nd Test against South Africa.Thomas (1979), pg 133. Meredith celebrated his 95th birthday in 2021. He was the last survivor from Wales’ last triumph over New Zealand, the 13–8 victory at Cardiff Arms Park on 19 December 1953. Meredith died on 30 May 2024, at the age of 97. ''International matches played''
WalesSmith (1980), pg 469. * 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957 * 1954, 1955 * 1954, 1955, 1956 * 1953 * 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Meredith, Courtenay 1926 births 2024 deaths Rugby union players from Pontypridd People educated at Neath Grammar School for Boys Alumni of Cardiff University Welsh rugby union players Wales international rugby union players Rugby union props British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Wales Barbarian F.C. players Neath RFC players