RAY Williams was thrilled to receive the Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service with his family present at a special reception held at Parc y Scarlets last week.

The IRB announced that Ray Williams, now living in Haverfordwest, was the first paid coaching official in world rugby, had been chosen to receive the highest award for services to rugby from iconic 1970s wing Gerald Davies.

Davies gave an insight into the man who helped pioneer coaching around the world.

Davies said: “Ray did nothing less than cause a revolution in the game.

“It was the bringing together of coaching ideas and physical preparation in a way that had never been done before and the world came to Wales for his coaching courses and to listen to what Ray Williams had to say.”

Williams received the award “with great pride” as he was also a leading administrator and thanked the IRB for this prestigious award.

In the audience many greats were in attendance from the Wales Grand Slam1970s era such as Barry John, JPR Williams, John Taylor, Tony Faulkner and Phil Bennett – as well as former Welsh coaches Clive Rowlands, John Dawes and Gareth Jenkins.