John 'Ginger' Williams player at Penzance & Newlyn RFC

Club History - Players - John 'Ginger' Williams

John 'Ginger' Williams

Born at Penzance in 1927, John was educated at St. Erbyns School (his rugby skills nurtured on a capsized pitch look at the area which is now a car park in Clarence Street and youll see exactly what we mean!), Rugby School and Cambridge.

Commissioned into the Devons, he won the first of his 25 Cornish caps in 1945 and in 1946 played for the Cornwall & Devon against the New Zealand Army Kiwis side.

He was a hard-running centre in the Pirates team alongside Mike Terry, and their exciting play drew the crowds to the Mennaye Field.

In 1949, John became a Cambridge Blue, returning then to Penzance to study law.

International caps were gained against Ireland and Scotland in 1951 the same year as an even more important match took place when he married Miss Jenefer Holman, the daughter of Mr. P. M. Holman, a past President of the RFU.

He was also our club captain in 1951-52, following in the footsteps of his brother Nicky (captain in 1947-48 and 1948-49). Further honours followed when playing for the Barbarians and the Combined Counties teams against the Springboks and All Blacks. He also skippered Richmond to a Middlesex 7s victory in 1953.

From 1952 until 1969, John regularly brought a team of to players to oppose us. Known as the Tankards, we never managed to beat them, but it was a great experience for our side to play against so many famous internationals, and it was also a bonus for the supporters. World-class stars who appeared for the Tankards over the years included players such as British Lions Tony OReilly, and Arthur Smith, who scored 5 tries against us in 1960.

In later years John lived at Budock, near Falmouth. He held the post of High Sheriff of Cornwall, and was also President of the Cornwall RFU (1991-94).