Quote:
Former Cardiff RFC captain Barry Nelmes has died suddenly, aged 58.
The Bristol-born prop played 166 times for Cardiff after joining in 1974 and became the club's first player to be capped by England, winning six caps.
He packed down alongside current Wales team manager Alan Phillips and Mike Knill in the front row of the Cardiff side that beat Australia in 1975.
Nelmes also played for the Barbarians in two prestigious fixtures against the Lions (1977) and New Zealand (1978).
Only the presence of one of England's all-time greats, Fran Cotton, prevented him from making more appearances for his country.
RFU President Bob Rogers said: "Barry was a great servant of great Bristol and Cardiff teams, leading the latter with distinction and playing a part in their famous victory over Australia in 1975.
"He was a distinguished and versatile performer for England in the 1970s and deserves to be recognised as one of a superb group of front-row forwards who played in that era."
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taken from the BBC website,
It was a shame that Fran Cotton was around at the same time as this truly great player, Frans presence stopped this great Front row forward playing more at the highest level (when rugby was really hard, with not such stringent rules in place)
May he Rest In Peace
04-12-2006, 01:20 PM
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