Architect of Wales' last win over All Blacks dies

Ken Jones will forever be remembered as the man who scored the vital try that helped Wales to beat New Zealand at Cardiff Arms Park in 1953 - the last time the Welsh beat the All Blacks.

The flying Newport winger latched on to a cross-kick from Clem Thomas with five minutes left to play and transformed an 8-8 draw into a famous 13-8 Welsh victory.

Yet there were many more golden moments in one of the greatest British sporting careers of the past 60 years.

Unquestionably Wales's greatest all-rounder, Jones was often asked to name his finest achievement.

It was a task he warmed to, had to take his time over, but he always came up with the same answer.

Was it that try against the All Blacks in 1953, or the near length-of-the-field score against New Zealand for the British and Irish Lions in 1950 - still recalled as one of the greatest tries ever scored at Eden Park? It could have been any of the eight tries he scored to help Wales win Grand Slams in 1950 and 1952.

In fact, he could have picked any one of the record-equalling 17 Welsh tries he scored in a then-world-record 44 appearances for his country between 1947 and 1957.

And there were countless heroic deeds for his club in a 293-match career that included 145 tries and two seasons as captain.

It was not, however, his rugby achievements that received top billing from the man himself, but his exploits on the athletics track.

He had started out as the All-India sprint champion during the Second World War and graduated to become the captain of the British track and field team at the 1954 European Championships, where he won a silver medal in the sprint relay.

He was a bronze medallist at the 1954 Commonwealth Games over 2300 metres for Wales and the proud owner of four Welsh sprint record and 17 domestic titles.

The ultimate thrill was competing at an Olympic Games.

"When I think back on my career as both a rugby player and an athlete, I would have to pick the 1948 Olympic Games as the highlight," said Jones.

"Reaching the semi-finals of the 100 metres, and being among the 12 fastest men in the world, as well as winning a silver medal in the relay, has to top the lot."

He also reported on rugby and athletics in Wales for the Sunday Express from 1958 until 1985.

He became President of Newport Athletic Club, which incorporates Newport Rugby Club, but resigned in 1995, having served the club for almost 50 years.

"I cannot accept or live with the professionalism in rugby now," he said "If people think Wales will now have a wonderful team they are mistaken. Wales will never have that again.

"Rugby union used to be a religion in Wales. Chapels have fallen down and rugby union is going the same way."

* Kenneth Jeffrey Jones, rugby player and athlete: born Blaenavon, Monmouthshire 30 December 1921; OBE 1960; married 1947 Irene Edmunds (one son); died Newport 18 April 2006.

- INDEPENDENT