Billy Cleaver

Infobox Rugby biography
name = Billy Cleaver


caption =
birthname = William Benjamin Cleaver [ [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/bill-cleaver-548862.html The Independent - Obituary] ]
nickname =
birthyear = 1921
birthmonth = 09
birthday = 15
placeofbirth = Treorchy, Wales [ [http://www.wru.co.uk/12750_14256.php?player=25855&includeref=dynamic WRU player profiles] ]
deathyear = 2003
deathmonth = 09
deathday = 29
placeofdeath =
height = 5ft. 9ins.Smith (1980), pg 309.]
weight = 13st.
ru_position = Fly-half
ru_amateuryears = ?
?
?
1945-1951
1946-1947
ru_amateurclubs = Treorchy RFC
Newbridge RFC
Bridgend RFC
Cardiff RFC
Barbarian F.C.
ru_amclubcaps =
ru_amclubpoints =
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalteam = Wales British Lions [ [http://www.scrum.com/1200_1205.php?player=25855&includeref=dynamic Scrum.com player profiles] ]
ru_nationalyears = 1947-1950
1950
ru_nationalcaps = 14
3
ru_nationalpoints = (6)
(0)
ru_ntupdate =
ru_coachclubs =
ru_coachyears =
ru_coachupdate =
other =
occupation = mining engineerSmith (1980), pg 304.]
spouse =
children =
relatives =
school = Pentre School [ [http://www.newportgwentdragons.com/Personnel.aspx?pr=103097 Newport Gwent Dragons player profiles] ]
university = University College of Wales, Cardiff
url =

William 'Billy' Cleaver (15 September, 1921 - 29 September, 2003) was a Welsh international fly-half who played club rugby for Cardiff. He won 14 caps for Wales and was selected to play in the British Lions on the 1950 tour of Australia and New Zealand. He was part of the Welsh team that won the 1950 Grand Slam.

Born in 1921 in Treorchy, Rhondda, Cleaver was an exciting attacking player with a shrewd change of pace. After one terrible game, under heavy weather conditions against Scotland, Cleaver gained the nickname 'Billy Kick'; though this was a harsh moniker considering his normally style of play. Cleaver was a coal miner by trade and spent most of his life within the industry, though in a managerial role for much of his later career. He was also a keen patron of the arts and was the secretary of the Contempory Arts Society for Wales and from 1980-83 was the vice chairman of the Welsh Arts Council.

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), pg 471.]
* 1947
* 1947, 1948, 1950
* 1947, 1948, 1950
* 1947, 1948, 1949, 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; the other, Norton of Ireland, broke his arm early on and Cleaver was forced play in every match in that position until Lewis Jones arrived as Norton's replacement.Thomas (1979), pg 103.] 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 from Ceylon, and Cleaver took his part as one of the two touch judges.
*ru|NZL 1950, 1950, 1950

Bibliography

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References