Gareth Edwards Cofio

-888

-888

-

-888

-# Remember

-# Remember #

-Good evening and welcome to Cofio...

-..where we refresh the memories

-of familiar faces...

-..using archive footage

-from yesteryear.

-Tonight, my guest

-is a master of many sports.

-He was a wizard

-on the rugby field...

-..he's a regular on the golf course

-and an accomplished angler...

-..but to most people,

-he is simply...

-..the greatest rugby player

-of all time.

-A warm welcome to you,

-Gareth Edwards.

-That was such

-an impressive introduction.

-There's no pressure on you tonight!

-You're a busy man.

-The years have just flown by.

-I've had a lot of enjoyment

-being involved in all those sports.

-The interest continues

-and you still keep yourself fit.

-I'm one of the directors

-of Cardiff Blues...

-..and I commentate with S4C.

-I've retained my interest in rugby.

-It's so important to me.

-Let's go back to the beginning.

-They say it's best

-to begin at the beginning.

-We'll take you back to Colbren

-Square in Gwauncaegurwen...

-..where you were raised as a child.

-Here, we'll see you explaining

-to Huw Llywelyn Davies...

-..back in 1978, when you played

-rugby for the first time.

-We returned to Gareth's first home

-to retrace his footsteps...

-..and discover more about

-his initial attraction to rugby...

-..and the skills that made him

-one of Wales's greatest players.

-When do you remember

-first kicking a rugby ball?

-I was about four years old...

-..and I used to play

-on the old Co-op field...

-..with the boys

-who lived next-door to me...

-..Ronnie and Denzil Williams.

-I used to play rugby with them.

-I remember where we used to live...

-..Cwmgors FC trained on the pitch

-behind our house.

-He was forever getting under their

-feet - he was only four years old.

-He had to cross a river

-to reach the pitch.

-He was such a nuisance,

-they'd use him as a ball!

-They'd throw him along the line

-as they ran across the pitch.

-Down in Ger-Yr-Afon?

-Was he a bit mischievous

-at that age?

-He was full of mischief,

-full of mischief!

-I remember, how can I put this...

-..it was innocent childhood fun.

-This was our field. That post was

-halfway and this was the try-line.

-You kicked the ball

-over these wires...

-..and Mrs Davies's house

-was the dead-ball line.

-We hit her front door so many times.

-She watched us from her window.

-If our ball was in the garden,

-she'd be out to get it.

-Today, you're a hero

-to everyone around here.

-You weren't a hero when you kicked

-the ball into their gardens...

-..and trampled on their lettuces.

-I'd like to talk to them now

-to see how they felt.

-People such as

-Mrs Morgan and Mrs Davies.

-We were great kickers...

-..but the ball would bounce on the

-kerb and bounce into the gardens.

-I think that's what made us

-such good players.

-Over the fence, grab the ball

-and out before they caught us!

-The memories are flooding back.

-The memories are flooding back.

-

-It was a happy time, unforgettable.

-I left the village when I was

-around 15 or 16 years old...

-..and went to Millfield.

-Being raised in the village,

-I only have fond memories.

-You had a younger brother -

-Gethin...

-..and an older sister - Gloria.

-You were a close family.

-Gloria was a few years older than me

-- she was born before the war.

-Dad went off to fight in the war.

-She's about eight years older.

-We had a happy family life.

-My childhood

-was even more enjoyable...

-..because I was surrounded

-by children of the same age.

-We played football

-and spent a lot of time together.

-You went to school and got to know

-the children in school.

-We also played together

-for a few hours after school...

-..especially in the summer.

-We also played

-under the street lights in winter.

-We enjoyed that kind of upbringing.

-Plenty of friends, plenty of banter

-- that was our life at the time.

-I know our next clip

-will mean a lot to you.

-It's a very familiar voice

-from the past.

-This man was very influential

-in Gareth's early life.

-He's talking to Dewi Bebb.

-I was expecting him

-to play for Wales.

-I was expecting him to play

-for Wales before he was 20...

-..but I didn't expect him

-to be made captain so soon.

-He's become, for me...

-I'm very happy that he's made

-his mark at such an early age.

-What was he like at school?

-He specialized in athletics.

-In the summer, when everyone else

-played cricket and tennis...

-..he lifted weights,

-ran distances and sprinted.

-As you know, he was

-a Welsh schools' hurdles champion.

-He was also Welsh schools'

-long jump champion.

-He was a very talented athlete.

-That's the primary reason

-for his current success.

-What did you think

-when he was chosen to captain Wales?

-Smashing.

-What kind of captain will he make?

-What kind of captain will he make?

-

-Grand.

-Know him -

-I've known him since he was born.

-I've lived in Gwauncaegurwen

-for 50 years.

-What was he like as a young boy?

-What was he like as a young boy?

-

-He was a star.

-It's a good thing for this area.

-Another local lad, Claude Davey...

-..captained Wales

-against the All Blacks in 1935.

-Gareth is as good as Claude Davey

-any day.

-When I worked

-up on Cwmgors rugby field...

-..he was there every night,

-whatever the weather, on his own.

-He's worked very hard.

-It's an honour for him

-and an honour for Wales.

-It's also an honour

-for Gwauncaegurwen.

-You talked highly of Gwauncaegurwen.

-You impressed Gwauncaegurwen too.

-We saw Bill Samuel,

-your former PE teacher.

-He was a great influence on you -

-he nurtured your talent.

-He showed me the right way to train

-and taught me many skills.

-More than anything,

-he gave me the right grounding.

-He knew that nothing

-was easy in life.

-You had to prepare for everything.

-He talked there

-about lifting weights.

-He was the first teacher

-to suggest training such as that.

-I started lifting weights

-from an early age.

-My strength increased as I grew up

-and it prepared me for rugby.

-I wanted to be an athlete

-at one time...

-..then I wanted to play football

-for Swansea...

-..but Bill was preparing me

-for my future career.

-Tell me more about the Swans.

-I used to play football.

-I'd play rugby in the morning

-at school...

-..and football

-in the afternoon for the village.

-I was chosen

-for the Swansea youth team.

-Trevor Morris,

-Swansea's manager at the time...

-..wanted to sign me professionally.

-That's what every young boy

-wanted to do.

-He wanted me to come down

-the following season...

-..and gain experience

-with the first team.

-He said he'd write to me and I asked

-my mother if a letter had arrived.

-She said one hadn't and I was

-ready to go off to Millfield.

-When confirmation arrived

-that I had a place in Millfield...

-..I found the letter from Swansea

-behind the clock on the mantelpiece.

-"Since when has this been here,

-Mam?"

-"I don't know - I hadn't seen it."

-The letter had arrived

-but she didn't want me to see it.

-She hid it from you.

-She hid it from you.

-

-She hid it behind the clock.

-She set you on your way

-to rugby fame.

-Bill Samuel was the man

-who coached me and trained me...

-..for my rugby career.

-Bill Samuel and Mam know best!

-There is another side to you

-that is not so well publicized.

-You played in a brass band

-when you were younger.

-First, here's a clip of one of west

-Wales's most popular brass bands...

-..the Llanelli Brass Band

-marching through the town in 1963.

-The cornet

-was your instrument of choice.

-Dad wanted me to be a part of it.

-His family had been members

-of a band in Ammanford.

-Everyone in his family

-played in the band.

-My father's father died

-at a very young age.

-He'd also played the cornet in front

-of the King a few years earlier...

-..in an exhibition

-at the Crystal Palace.

-Dad loved brass bands

-and he was hoping I'd join a band.

-I was more interested in sport

-and playing rugby and soccer.

-Like everyone else, I look back and

-regret I didn't take it seriously.

-I played in the youth band...

-..but unfortunately,

-I packed it in soon after.

-Well, fortunately for others, maybe!

-You can't pass and kick a cornet

-as you would a ball.

-I'd place my cornet in the bath.

-I'd tell Mam it had to be left

-in the bath to clean itself out.

-That's where it was most of the time

-- not next to my lips.

-It's time for us to take a break.

-We'll come back

-to share more memories...

-..and watch more clips

-with Gareth Edwards in a moment.

-# Remember #

-.

-888

-888

-

-888

-# Remember #

-Welcome back.

-We're taking a walk down memory lane

-with Gareth Edwards.

-Here's a clip showing what it was

-like to be one of the British Lions.

-We go back to 1971...

-..when Gareth landed in New Zealand

-for the First Test.

-We'll see

-a few other familiar faces too.

-John misses out Gibson.

-That's John Bevan

-tackled by Cottrell.

-The All Blacks get the ball back.

-Out to Sutherland.

-Charged down by McLauchlan

-and he's scored. 3-0 to the Lions.

-Carwyn, how do you feel

-after winning the First Test?

-I don't think I have the words

-to describe the feeling.

-There are so many emotions

-inside me at the moment.

-We knew that this would be

-the crucial game to win.

-After winning the first ten games...

-..and with four Tests coming up,

-it was crucial for us to win today.

-# We sailed on the Sloop John B

-# My grandpappy and me

-# Around Nassau town we did roam #

-Taken by Mains, by the wing.

-What a tackle by John Taylor.

-# Got into a fight #

-Pullin to Gareth on the blind side.

-Over to Gerald and Gerald is over.

-# I want to go home #

-That's it,

-that's the end of the game.

-14-14, the Lions have won the Test

-series 2-1 with one match drawn.

-What do you think of the welcome

-you've had here tonight?

-Well, it was magnificent.

-I've said this many times

-to my friends.

-It was worth touring

-for three and a half months...

-..because returning to see all

-these people is such a pleasure.

-You were stars when you returned.

-We'll come to that in a moment.

-Let's talk about the experience

-of being on tour with the Lions.

-Is it different

-to the current experience?

-It's amazing.

-You've been preparing for the tour

-for years.

-When you start playing rugby,

-you want to represent your country.

-Once you've done that, the pinnacle

-is playing for the Lions.

-On tour, you make new friendships

-that last a lifetime.

-It's such a great experience.

-It's hard to describe the emotions

-and the spirit of being on tour.

-The welcome you received on your

-return was the icing on the cake.

-No-one expected so much success.

-We left the country

-and no-one gave us a hope.

-No team had ever won a Test series

-in New Zealand.

-When we left Australia

-and reached New Zealand...

-..the press dubbed us the worst team

-to leave Australia for New Zealand.

-We became a successful side

-and when we returned to Heathrow...

-..the welcome was greater than

-the welcome the Beatles received...

-..when they returned from America.

-It was amazing.

-People from across the country

-turned up to welcome us home.

-When I returned to Neath...

-..there were flowers for my mother,

-grandmother and Maureen...

-..the greatest welcome

-you'd ever seen...

-..and a lovely motor car to take me

-through Rhydyfro and Pontardawe...

-..all the way to Cwmgors

-and Gwauncaegurwen.

-People lined the streets

-every step of the way to welcome us.

-The bunting was hanging from

-the houses. I'll never forget it.

-A big cwtch from Maureen at the end!

-When you're away from home,

-you don't realize what's going on.

-You concentrate on every match.

-It's a long time to be away.

-I had a family

-and when I went to South Africa...

-..my son Owen was born

-on the Tuesday...

-..and I left home on the Friday

-for three and a half months.

-That was difficult.

-It wasn't as bad if you were

-a youngster still in college...

-..with no family.

-It was a far better experience.

-We turn to the tranquillity of the

-river and leave the rugby behind.

-Here, you're explaining

-to Huw Llywelyn Davies...

-..the appeal of fishing

-and how you became interested.

-I remember catching

-one of my first fish.

-There were only eels in the river.

-Only eels could survive.

-I'm sure the fish

-had pneumosilicosis.

-You used to break your mother's

-heart when you took them home.

-There was no point her cooking them.

-By the time she'd removed the dust,

-coal and skin off them...

-..there was nothing left.

-It gave me as much pleasure

-to catch the eels...

-..as it gives me

-to catch a salmon now.

-I play rugby at the highest level...

-..and this is the only way

-I can relax and forget about rugby.

-Every time I fish,

-wherever I fish...

-..as soon as I'm on the river,

-I forget everything.

-I almost lost my train of thought...

-..because when I look at the water,

-I start thinking about fishing.

-That's the effect it has on me.

-I enjoy being out

-in the countryside.

-I love these surroundings.

-I feel free here.

-Those were impressive sideburns.

-That's the worst thing

-about the style of that time.

-That's what's nice

-about watching these clips.

-You do relax completely when

-you fish and have done for decades.

-Since I was about five years old.

-I was raised near the river

-in Gwauncaegurwen...

-..before we moved up

-to Colbren Square.

-The river flowed

-through the village.

-Most of the time,

-the river was black.

-It was black because of the coal

-that ended up in the water.

-As I was telling Huw,

-only eels could survive in it.

-If you travelled beyond that river,

-into the mountains...

-..you'd find some great clear

-waters for trout fishing.

-Mr Williams, one of our neighbours,

-was a keen angler.

-He took me fishing for the first

-time when I was about six years old.

-I caught some trout

-and brought them home.

-Mam had to cook them

-as soon as I got home.

-There's nothing better than cooking

-fish that have just been caught.

-The interest in fishing

-has stayed with me all my life.

-It helps me relax now.

-I didn't think it would be important

-when I played for Wales...

-..but when you're under pressure

-on the pitch...

-..it was a release for me

-away from the pitch.

-The whole experience was a joy.

-It wasn't just

-about catching the fish.

-It was about being

-in the great outdoors.

-You need an opportunity to come down

-after the rush of excitement.

-If I spend an hour on the river,

-I forget about it all.

-I think we'd have some letters

-of complaint...

-..if we didn't show this next clip

-of you on the programme.

-Any excuse to show a classic

-from the history of rugby union.

-Here's Gareth Edwards's try...

-..against the All Blacks in 1973

-at Cardiff Arms Park.

-Bryan Williams

-gave the Barbarians possession...

-..which led to one of the most

-remarkable tries at the Arms Park.

-Bennett caught New Zealand's

-back row flat-footed.

-The Baa-Baas' attack reformed

-and moved up field.

-Edwards crosses for a try

-that had the crowd gasping...

-..and the All Blacks bewildered.

-Yay! I still want to do that

-every time I see that clip.

-Do you sometimes

-reach for the tape...

-..and relive the try

-when you're on your own?

-I watched the entire game for the

-first time only about a year ago.

-I don't watch it that often.

-Of course,

-wherever I go around the world...

-..people ask me about the try...

-..more often than not,

-in New Zealand...

-..South Africa,

-Australia and America.

-It also happened once

-when I was fishing in Russia.

-A bloke had a recording of the match

-and showed it on TV.

-I was asked to speak about the try.

-People have seen it

-around the world.

-People remember where they were

-when that match was played...

-..but I never watch it.

-My son Owen rang me up

-a few weeks ago...

-..to tell me

-the match was on the television.

-I watched it and enjoyed it...

-..but when I watched it...

-..I picked out all the mistakes

-we made...

-..instead of highlighting

-the good points from the game.

-It's an iconic try.

-It's the perfect way

-to end the programme.

-Thank you for joining us.

-I hope you've enjoyed

-your trip down memory lane.

-Unfortunately,

-time flies by so quickly.

-Thank you very much, Gareth.

-Until next time, goodnight.

-# Remember

-# Remember #

-S4C Subtitles by Simian 04 Cyf.

-.