All at Wales Rugby League were sad to hear about the passing of our former international player Ray Glastonbury, aged 87.
Ray played just the once for Wales, in the time where few international matches were played, scoring the only try in a 23-3 defeat to France in 1963.
Bedwellty-born, but Cardiff-raised, he attended Whitchurch Grammar School and played for Cardiff Schools and Cardiff Youth before joining Cardiff RFC where he made 51 appearances between 1959 and 1962. National service took him into the RAF, where he played rugby union for both them and the Combined Services side.
Following conversations with rugby league legend, Alex Murphy, Ray turned professional with Workington Town for the start of the season in 1962 and quickly made the right-wing his home, picking up five tries on his home debut against Rochdale Hornets. He ended up with 133 tries in his 206 appearances before returning to Wales and playing football for Cardiff Corinthians FC.
Ray remained in Cardiff but kept in touch with his former team-mates in Workington and was sometimes a guest at the club. A number of these would have attended his 80th birthday celebration at Whitchurch Golf Club, Cardiff in December 2018 where around 150 guests celebrated his career.
Everyone at Wales Rugby League would like to pass on their sincere condolences to all of Ray’s family and friends.
