Ray "Chico" Hopkins (born 8 July 1946) is a Welsh international

rugby Rugby may refer to: Sport * Rugby football in many forms: ** Rugby league: 13 players per side *** Masters Rugby League *** Mod league *** Rugby league nines *** Rugby league sevens *** Touch (sport) *** Wheelchair rugby league ** Rugby union: 1 ...

player who was also a member of the British Lions.

Background

Ray Hopkins was born in Maesteg, Wales, and he later worked as a National Coal Board fitter at their workshop in Maesteg.

Club career

Hopkins played youth rugby union for the Maesteg RFC academy. Later, he played for the senior Maesteg team, , British and Irish Lions and Llanelli RFC. Hopkins played for the victorious Llanelli team that played and beat the

New Zealand All Blacks The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks ( mi, Ōpango), represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. The team won the Rugby World Cup in 1987, ...

at Stradey Park on 31 October 1972. The Scarlets side emerged 9-3 winners of what was a bruising, brutal encounter at a packed Stradey Park with 20,000 supporters. Others to play in the victory included ex Wales Coach Gareth Jenkins and

Ray Gravell Raymond William Robert Gravell (12 September 1951 – 31 October 2007) was a Welsh rugby union centre who played club rugby for Llanelli RFC. At international level, Gravell earned 23 caps for Wales and was selected for the 1980 British Lions ...

. In 1972 Hopkins joined Swinton RLFC ( rugby league), making his debut against Huyton on 3 December that year.

International career

Although he played only 20 minutes for the full international Wales team, Hopkins earned lasting fame in Welsh rugby history due to a notable try against England in 1970. It was unfortunate for him that Gareth Edwards was in possession of the Wales and British Lions scrum-half position at the time. Hopkins's moment of fame came during the England v. Wales game at Twickenham in 1970. The Wales team were behind on points with twenty minutes to go. The captain, Gareth Edwards, was injured and had to retire from the game. Hopkins came onto the field as a replacement. He soon scored a try, and, after a

conversion Conversion or convert may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * "Conversion" (''Doctor Who'' audio), an episode of the audio drama ''Cyberman'' * "Conversion" (''Stargate Atlantis''), an episode of the television series * "The Conversion" ...

J.P.R. Williams John Peter Rhys Williams (born 2 March 1949) is a former Welsh rugby union player who represented Wales in international rugby during their Golden Era in the 1970s. He became known universally as J. P. R. Williams (or sometimes just as JPR) aft ...

, Wales won the game. He toured with the 1971 Lions to New Zealand and played in ten games against provincial sides.Chico Hopkins Lions profile
lionsrugby.com He was an injury replacement for Gareth Edwards in the Dunedin Test match, which the Lions won, 9-3.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hopkins, Ray 1946 births Living people Barbarian F.C. players British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Wales Llanelli RFC players Maesteg RFC players Rugby league players from Maesteg Rugby union players from Maesteg Rugby union scrum-halves Swinton Lions players Wales international rugby union players Welsh rugby league players Welsh rugby union players