JPR Williams, St Mary’s Hospital Medical School alumnus and rugby star, dies

JPR Williams addresses the crowd at the 2009 JPR Williams Cup rugby match at Twickenham Stoop

John Peter Rhys Williams—known as JPR Williams—has died at the age of 74.

An alumnus of St Mary’s Hospital Medical School—which merged with Imperial College London in 1988—JPR Williams went on to become an orthopaedic surgeon, as well as a trailblazing Welsh rugby union fullback.  

He represented his country in international rugby during the 1970s. He won his first cap aged just 19 in 1969, going onto earn 55 caps for Wales, five as captain, and eight caps for the British Lions. 

He was a key player in the Welsh grand slam victories of 1971, 1976 and 1978. In 10 tests between Wales and England he scored five tries - exceptional for a fullback - and was never on the losing side. Williams was an inaugural inductee of the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 1997 was awarded the MBE for services to rugby in 1977. 

Williams retired from international rugby in 1981 and continued his career as an orthopaedic surgeon. From 1978-82 he rose from Surgical Registrar to Orthopaedic Registrar at Cardiff Hospitals, becoming Senior Orthopaedic Registrar at St Mary's, London from 1982-86. He became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1980 and also worked at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Mid Glamorgan. 

In honour of Williams and his continuing influence on rugby in the medical school, the annual JPR Williams Cup was established in 2003.

Played between Imperial Medicals RFC, the medical school’s team, and the Imperial College rugby team, the two 1st XVs battle to take home the JPR Williams Trophy, which has now been held by the medical school since 2019. 

The JPR Williams Cup now takes place as part of the annual Imperial Varsity matches, where the medical school’s sports teams take on the College’s in a range of fixtures. 

Fourth-year medical student Charlie Norrish, current Imperial Medicals RFC Club Captain, said, “As the most distinguished alumnus of our club, we have all been deeply saddened by the news of JPR Williams’ death. We are all so proud to have been part of this club and to have had a connection with him through it.  

"We will keep both his name and his legacy a strong part of this club, and continue to battle for the JPR Williams Trophy each year in his honour. We will be observing a minute’s silence for JPR in our next home fixture against Canterbury, and we hope many will join us in remembering him and his life and work.”