| Birth name | Courtenay Charles Meredith | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 23 September 1926 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Pontypridd, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Neath Grammar School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University College, Cardiff | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Courtenay Meredith (born 23 September 1926) is a former Welsh international rugby union prop who played club rugby for Neath. He won fourteen caps for Wales and also played for invitational club the Barbarians. Meredith was a powerful prop, and was much praised by second row players for his tight packing, which allowed them the opportunity to shove the opposition. He played both tight and loose head prop but preferred tight head.
On the 1955 British and Irish Lions Tour the all-Welsh front row of Billy Williams, Bryn Meredith and Courtenay Meredith was selected for a Lions test match. This did not occur again until June 2009 when Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones and Matthew Rees were selected as the British and Irish Lions front row for the 2nd Test against South Africa.[4]
Meredith celebrated his 95th birthday in 2021.[5] He is the only survivor from Wales’ last triumph over New Zealand, the 13–8 victory at Cardiff Arms Park on 19 December 1953.
International matches played
Wales[6]
England 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957
France 1954, 1955
Ireland 1954, 1955, 1956
New Zealand 1953
Scotland 1953,1954, 1955, 1957