Enigma of the rugby world

A drama-documentary on S4C, Carwyn, gives a powerful portrayal of the enigmatic character from Cefneithin, near Llanelli.

In this feature-length programme by T. James Jones and Dylan Richards, actor Aneirin Hughes portrays Carwyn in his last days in Amsterdam.

Carwyn James died in a hotel in Amsterdam on 10 January, 1983 aged 54. He'd had a successful career as a rugby player and coach, teacher and broadcaster.

He won two Welsh caps and the general view is that he'd have won more but for the fact that Cliff Morgan was one of his peers.

The coach

It was as a coach that Carwyn's star shone brightest, and he is still regarded as one of the world's most successful and admired rugby coaches over a quarter of a century after his death.

The programme tries to explain Carwyn's complex personality while also telling the exciting story of his successes on the rugby field with archive footage of the great games.

He led the British Lions to victory on their tour of New Zealand in 1971 and Llanelli to their legendary conquest of the All Backs in 1972, but he never got the chance to coach the Welsh national team.

"Some people said he was lucky in New Zealand because he had a good team but he proved his point in Stradey Park," said Delme Thomas, captain of the Scarlets in the big game against the All Blacks.

"He'd been rejected as Wales' national coach but he proved his point in excellent fashion."

Complex soul

Despite all his success in life, Carwyn is shown to be a troubled individual with emotional tensions, a complicated and lonely man whose success in the macho world of rugby masked unendurable physical and emotional torment.

"Rugby was never a job for Carwyn, it was his life and he wanted people to share that life and we were willing to take part in it because he offered us so much," said John Dawes, a member of the triumphant Lions team of 1971.

Carwyn was a sensitive, educated soul, but through it all, his greatness and humanity shine brightly.