Dai Williams
Full names: David Owen
Date of birth: 16 Jun 1913
Place of birth: Mowbray
School: Diocesan College (Bishops)
Springbok no: 231
Springbok debut province: Western Province
Physical: 1.83m, 85.3kg
Date of death: 24 Dec 1975 (Age 62)
Test summary: Tests: 8 Tries: 5
First Test: 26 Jun 1937 Age 24 - Right Wing against Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Last Test: 10 Sep 1938 Age 25 - Right Wing against Britain at Newlands, Cape Town
Tours Wales, Ireland, England & Scotland 1931-32 Australia & New Zealand 1937
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentVenueResultScoreProvince
26 Jun 1937 24Right Wing Australia Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Win: 9-5  WP
17 Jul 1937 24Right Wing Australia Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Win: 26-171 try WP
14 Aug 1937 24Right Wing New Zealand Athletic Park, Wellington Lose: 7-131 try WP
04 Sep 1937 24Right Wing New Zealand Lancaster Park (Jade stadium), Christchurch Win: 13-6  WP
25 Sep 1937 24Right Wing New Zealand Eden Park, Auckland Win: 17-61 try WP
06 Aug 1938 25Right Wing Britain Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 26-122 tries WP
03 Sep 1938 25Right Wing Britain Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth Win: 19-3  WP
10 Sep 1938 25Right Wing Britain Newlands, Cape Town Lose: 16-21  WP

Dai Williams: Doc Craven

Dai joined the 1931/32 tour after Jock van Niekerk was crocked and there he made his name for the first time. It was a case of history repeating itself; Steve Joubert had done the same thing as a replacement in 1906/1907.

Dal was only 18 years old when he joined the tour. He came over by ship and it took a long time for him to arrive. He joined us when we were in Wales and with a name like "Dai" the Welsh fans were ecstatic - here was a Springbok playing for South Africa but with the utterly Welsh name of Dai.

However, I think his name proved to be something of a burden to Dai. He didn't have many opportunities during that tour and when the Wallabies toured South Africa in 1933 he was on the injury list.

But we knew what a diamond we had in this attractive young man, and when the team was selected to tour New Zealand in 1937, Dai was included.

I will never forget the try he scored in the last international when the New Zealand fullback literally turned a somersault trying to get to him. But Dai, with his tremendous swerve, evaded him; he couldn't lay a finger on the Springbok wing.

Then there was the last try we scored during the first test against the 1938 Lions at Ellis Park. Dai broke past everybody and scored in the corner. The crowd, nearly 100 000, had smashed the fences and were encroaching on the playing area.

Fortunately for us the referee was up with the play and he saw Dai dot down, because as he did so Dai was buried by the spectators. Gerry Brand with no run-up - he was hemmed in by spectators - put the ball straight through the posts for the extra two points.