Keith Rowlands

{{short description|British Lions & Wales international rugby union footballer}} {{EngvarB|date=October 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Keith Rowlands | image = Keith rowlands rugby player.jpg | caption = | birth_name = Keith Alun Rowlands | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1936|02|7}} | birth_place = Brithdir, [[Bridgend]], Wales | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2006|11|18|1936|02|7}} | death_place = [[Cardiff]], Wales | height = | weight = | position = [[Lock (rugby union)|Lock]] | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = [[Aberdare RFC]] | amatteam2 = [[London Welsh RFC]] | amatteam3 = [[Llanelli RFC]] | amatteam4 = [[Cardiff RFC]] | ru_amupdate = | repteam1 = [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]] | repteam2 = [[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]] | repyears1 = 1962–1965 | repyears2 = 1962 | repcaps1 = 5 | repcaps2 = 3 | reppoints1 = 0 | reppoints2 = 3 | ru_ntupdate = | years1 = | apps1 = | points1 = | ru_clubupdate = | ru_sevensupdate = | coachteams1 = | coachyears1 = | ru_coachupdate = | school = [[Cowbridge Grammar School]]<br/>[[Aberdare Boys' Grammar School]] | university = [[University of London]] }} '''Keith Alun Rowlands''' (7 February 1936 – 18 November 2006), was a Welsh international [[Rugby union positions#4. .26 5. Lock|lock]] [[rugby union]] player and later administrator, who was the first chief executive officer of the [[International Rugby Board]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cardiffrugby.wales/news/keith-alun-rowlands-1936-2006|title=Keith Alun Rowlands 1936 - 2006|date=20 November 2006|website=Cardiff Rugby|access-date=26 November 2021}}</ref>

==Playing career== Rowlands was born in Brithdir, [[Bridgend]], the son of a [[South Wales Police|Glamorgan Constabulary]] Police Inspector. After attending [[Cowbridge Grammar School]], on his father's transfer to [[Aberdare]], Rowlands entered the second year at [[Aberdare Boys' Grammar School]] and went on to captain both the rugby (1953–54) and [[cricket]] teams (1954 and 1955). He won a Welsh Secondary School Cap in 1955, playing against England at [[Cardiff]]. He graduated from [[University of London]] and served [[National Service]] with the 1st Battalion of [[The Welch Regiment]] from 1958 to 1960.

Rowlands played for [[Aberdare RFC|Aberaman]] and then [[London Welsh RFC|London Welsh]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aberdareonline.co.uk/content/public/history/sporting_greats/aberaman_rugby_football_club/ |title=Aberaman Rugby Football Club - AberdareOnline |access-date=18 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105025909/http://www.aberdareonline.co.uk/content/public/history/sporting_greats/aberaman_rugby_football_club/ |archive-date=5 January 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.aberdareonline.co.uk/content/public/history/sporting%5Fgreats/the%5Fvalleys%5Fgreat%5Fsportsmen/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050217032036/http://www.aberdareonline.co.uk/content/public/history/sporting_greats/the_valleys_great_sportsmen/| archive-date = 2005-02-17| title = The Cynon valley's great sportsmen - AberdareOnline}}</ref> He transferred to [[Llanelli RFC|Llanelli]] for one season in 1958, before [[Cardiff RFC|Cardiff]] signed him in September 1961. He played 147 games for the Welsh capital side until 1967.

In March 1962 he gained his first of five caps for [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]] when he played in the winning side which beat France. He made his debut for the [[Barbarian F.C.|Barbarians]] at Leicester in March 1962, later captaining the side in 1966. Rowlands represented the [[British and Irish Lions]] on 19 occasions, including all three tests in the 1962 Tour of South Africa, where he scored a try in the final international. He also played in the non-cap Lions match with [[Kenya national rugby union team|Kenya]].

He played his last rugby for [[Newport RFC]] in 1973/74.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.blackandambers.co.uk/Personnel.aspx?pr=176260 |title=Newport RFC Personnel: Keith Rowlands |access-date=18 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928162858/http://www.blackandambers.co.uk/Personnel.aspx?pr=176260 |archive-date=28 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Post playing== Rowlands finished playing in 1967, and immediately became a committee member at [[Cardiff RFC]]. He was chairman for the 1974 season and continued to serve Cardiff until 1986.

Whilst serving on the Cardiff committee, he became a member of the [[Welsh Rugby Union]]. Rowlands was appointed as one of the WRU's two representatives on the [[International Rugby Board]] in 1983 and became the IRB's first general secretary in 1988. Under Rowlands guidance, its headquarters moved from [[Bristol]] to [[Dublin]], Ireland. This was key in turning the [[Rugby World Cup]] into one of the leading sporting events in the world, which Rowlands was at the heart of as one of its directors.

Rowlands decided to retire at the end of the 1995 Rugby World Cup. However, IRB chairman [[Vernon Pugh]] and the RWC chairman [[Leo Williams (rugby union)|Leo Williams]] persuaded Rowlands to take on the Chief Executive's role at the [[1999 Rugby World Cup]] in Wales. He resigned all positions with the IRB and the RWC after the tournament ended.

In 2004 Rowlands beat WRU Secretary [[David East (police officer)|David East]] in the contest to succeed [[Tasker Watkins|Sir Tasker Watkins]] as Welsh Rugby Union president.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/3600664.stm BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Welsh | WRU appoint new president]</ref>

==Outside rugby== Rowlands was married to Jean, with whom he had one child named Joanne. In his retired years, he lived with his wife in Rhiwbina, Cardiff.

As he played his rugby in amateur days, Rowlands worked in sales and marketing for [[Guinness|Arthur Guinness Ltd]] and the [[Blackthorn Cider|Taunton Cider]] before becoming a full-time professional at the IRB.

In his retirement Rowlands had roles as Patron of Aberaman RFC, President of Rhiwbina RFC, the Welsh Academicals and the Welsh Deaf Rugby Association. He was also President of the Cwmbach Male Voice Choir.

Rowlands collapsed at his home in Cardiff and died at lunchtime on 18 November 2006, less than 24 hours after watching Wales beat Canada 61–26 at the [[Millennium Stadium]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20110526071239/http://www.wru.co.uk/2_9205.php Welsh Rugby Union : Tributes pour in for WRU President Keith Rowlands]</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://archive.today/20110526071239/http://www.wru.co.uk/2_9205.php WRU obituary] *[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/6161604.stm BBC obituary]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rowlands, Keith}} [[Category:1936 births]] [[Category:2006 deaths]] [[Category:Aberdare RFC players]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of London]] [[Category:Barbarian F.C. players]] [[Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Wales]] [[Category:Cardiff RFC players]] [[Category:Llanelli RFC players]] [[Category:People educated at Cowbridge Grammar School]] [[Category:Rugby union players from Bridgend County Borough]] [[Category:Wales international rugby union players]] [[Category:Wales Rugby Union officials]] [[Category:Welsh rugby union players]] [[Category:Rugby union locks]] [[Category:World Rugby Hall of Fame inductees]] [[Category:20th-century Welsh sportsmen]]