ChicoHopkins

There are few in world rugby who can boast having the same achievement as Ray ‘Chico’ Hopkins – as many Tests for his country as with the Lions.

As an injury replacement for Gareth Edwards in 1971, Hopkins featured in the opening Test in Dunedin, with his contribution in the 9-3 success helping propel the Lions to a famous Test victory.

He was to play against the All Blacks no more with Edwards returning to the fore, but did feature in ten other Tour games, scoring against South Canterbury-Mid Canterbury-North Otago prior to the first Test.

That came after the scrum-half’s one and only cap for Wales. Again as a replacement for Edwards, Hopkins came on for the final 20 minutes against England in the 1970 Five Nations, inspiring his country to a famous 17-13 comeback with the last try of the match.

Away from the international arena, Hopkins was part of the Llanelli side that beat New Zealand in 1972, and later that year he switched codes to join Swinton.