Scarlets legend Andy Hill — a member of the Llanelli side that defeated New Zealand and rated one of the unluckiest players never to win a Wales cap — has passed away at the age of 78.
Llanelli rugby historian Les Williams hailed the goal-kicking wing from Swansea as a phenomenal rugby player.
"Norman Gale spotted him running around in Gorseinon and brought him down to play for us," said Williams.
"He quickly made a mark.
"He was a phenomenal player, undoubtedly one of the unluckiest players not to win a Wales cap. He did actually appear in a Welsh President’s XV but not in a full international."
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Hill scored a record 311 tries for Llanelli over 453 games and amassed 2,604 points, a mountainous tally that has been bettered only by Wales and Lions fly-half Stephen Jones.
The wisecracking wide-man had a distinctive around-the-corner kicking style that brought him success, with Hill using a combination of power and technique to fire over goals from improbable distances.
He wrote his name into club history by slotting a penalty in Llanelli’s 9-3 win over the All Blacks in 1972.
“At one stage he held pretty much every one of our records — most tries in a game, most tries in a season, most points in a season, but they were all gradually beaten," said Les Williams. "The one record that will never be bettered, though, is his 311 career tries for Llanelli. There’s always been a debate about whether it should be 312, but one of those was actually classed as a penalty try in a cup final against Aberavon, so it couldn’t be given to Andy.
“He was one of those players who liked his statistics and always used to ask me to include touchdowns he scored in sevens in his tally, but, of course, we didn’t go there.
“What I remember about him, as well, was that he was a joker, a man with a huge personality. And he was a Swansea Jack through and through, yet he held most of our club records. He was a great person to know.”
In the 1990s, Hill used to ring the sports desk of the South Wales Evening Post to chat about rugby. Tongue in cheek, he'd say: "I was the one who scored all the points and tries yet I don't get a word written about me."
But he was hugely respected by all who knew him.
Ray ‘Chico’ Hopkins played in the same Llanelli team that defeated New Zealand more than half-a-century ago.
He said Hill was a big voice in the dressing room.
“Andy was a character, the type of bloke every dressing room needs," said Hopkins.
"He and Ray Gravell were the characters.
“Andy was good enough to play international rugby but at the time there were so many good wings around in Wales, among them Maurice Richards, Gerald Davies, John Bevan and JJ Williams. It just made it difficult for others to get a look in.
“But he was excellent for Llanelli and a credit to himself and the club.”
Born in Swansea, Hill made a try-scoring debut in a 25-3 win over Richmond at Stradey Park in 1967 and quickly became a Llanelli RFC regular, twice playing 50 matches in a season. There were Welsh Cup final wins in 1973, 74 and 75 at a time when Llanelli boasted one of the strongest sides in British and Irish rugby, with the likes of Phil Bennett, JJ Williams and Ray Gravell in their pomp.
Away from rugby, Hill was a painter and decorator.
Scarlets executive chairman Simon Muderack said: “Andy Hill was a legend of Stradey Park, a player whose try-scoring record will surely ever be beaten and to play more than 450 matches for a club is an incredible achievement. He was a big favourite with the faithful at Stradey Park and will, of course, also be remembered for being part of that legendary side that beat the All Blacks in ’72.
“Everyone at the club sends our deepest condolences to Andy’s family and friends at this sad time.”
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