We were sad to learn about the passing of Gordon Pritchard today (Saturday 17 May) at 12.35pm following an illness, aged 70.
Gordon won three caps for Wales, the first two in 1978 against France and England, and the other in 1981 against England.
Gordon started playing rugby union for Cardiff in 1973 before playing for Newport a year later, but rugby wasn’t his first sport as he was an up and coming footballer and had trials for Manchester United in his youth.
He eventually turned professional in rugby league with Leeds in 1974 after being signed by the legendary Roy Francis. Originally a policeman, he had to resign his job to move north, but his appearances at Leeds were limited to their reserves side.
A year later, he moved to Bradford Northern, where Roy Francis had gone to a few months before. He was more successful there, remaining at the club for three years before having spells at Barrow and Huddersfield and also playing professionally in New Zealand for Eastern Suburbs in Canterbury.
He eventually returned to Wales as a founder member of Cardiff City Blue Dragons (pic taken from an official club programme), scoring a drop-goal in the very first match, which was at Ninian Park on August 30, 1981. He ended up playing 81 matches there, scoring 18 tries and kicking two drop-goals.
He eventually returned to rugby union as a coach, first with Pontypool in 1988, one of the rare former rugby league players allowed to coach a rugby union club before the 15-player game became open seven years later. He later coached at Tondu, Bristol and then most famously at the top level with Caerphilly in the pre-regional era.
He later supported Caerphilly-based Aber Valley Wolves where his four grandsons played – two of them Scott Pritchard and Carter Pritchard became junior internationals with Wales Rugby League, whilst Lewi Hartland, and Gavin and Stacey actor Oscar Hartland also took to the field with the club as juniors.
Helen Treherne, general manager at Aber Valley Wolves said: “The club is so sad to hear of the passing of a true friend of the club, Gordon Pritchard (or Billy Pritch as I fondly called him).
“I’ll never forget the stories he told about being shunned by some Welsh rugby union clubs for becoming one of the infamous codebreakers and daring to leave Wales to play rugby league ‘wp north’.
“His son Grant coached for us, all four of his grandsons played for us and his daughter Kirsty is a staunch supporter of the club.
“Our thoughts go to Karen, Grant, Kirsty, Gemma, the boys and all his family and friends.
A minutes applause will be held before all Aber Valley Wolves matches tomorrow (Sunday). His family have said that funeral arrangements will be shared in due course.
Gordon Pritchard 26/09/1954-17/05/2025
