
Click images to enlarge
Gerald played 11 times for Wales as a centre and then moved to wing for the 2nd test against NZ in 1969 on tour to the Southern Hemisphere and became one of the greatest in the latter position. After 13 caps while with Cardiff he missed 1970 due to studies and by 1971 was playing for London Welsh, gaining 16 more caps before returning to play for Cardiff. Thereafter he appeared 17 times and made two Lions tours – to South Africa in 1968 (1 test) and to NZ for the victorious tour in 1971 (4 tests), though joining late after taking more exams. While at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Carmarthen he played for Wales Secondary Schools and then went to Loughborough College and played in their Middlesex 7s victories of 1964 and 1966. He had begun senior rugby with Kidwelly, Llanelli, Crawshay’s Welsh and then Cardiff, before going to Emmanuel College, Cambridge University and gained Rugby Blues in 1968, 1969 and 1970 (captain). For Cardiff he played 167 times and scored 73 tries. For London Welsh he appeared in the Middlesex Sevens win of 1972. Back at Cardiff in 1974-75 he was skipper for three seasons, inc their centenary, toured to South Africa (1967) and as captain to Canada (1977), also going with Wales to Japan/Hong Kong (1975) and skippering in Australia (1978). He was a schoolteacher at Cardiff’s Llanrumney High School and Christ’s Hospital, Horsham, Sussex, then joining the Welsh Sports Council. On retirement from rugby in 1978 he worked for the BBC, was a board member of HTV, trustee of Llandovery College, a journalist with The Times, Deputy Lieutenant of Gwent and manager of the Lions to South Africa (2009). On the field he was a thrilling, side-stepping runner and a brilliant tackler and coverer, scoring 20 tries for Wales, including two against England (1971); the try that John Taylor converted for a Murrayfield win (1971) and two against Ireland (1971 & 1976), plus two in the 1971 Lions’ tests in NZ. He skippered Wales in his final appearance, losing to Australia (1978). Among his Barbarians appearances were as captain against the Lions (1977); against NZ (1974) and Australia (1975), also playing for England-Wales v Scotland-Ireland (1970,1972 & 1975). His 20 tries equalled the Wales record of Gareth Edwards. In 2019 he was appointed President of the WRU.