Keith Jarrett (rugby)

Keith Jarrett

Full name	Keith Stanley Jarrett
Date of birth	18 May 1948 (1948-05-18)
Place of birth	Newport, Wales
Height	6 ft
Weight	13 st 1 lb.
School	Monmouth School
Rugby league career
Position	Back
Professional clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1969-1973	Barrow
National teams
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1970	Wales	2	(3)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Centre
Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team
1966 1966-1970 ?	Abertillery RFC Newport RFC London Welsh RFC Monmouthshire
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1967-1969 1968	Wales British Isles	10 0	(73) (0)

Keith Jarrett (born 18 May 1948 in Newport, Monmouthshire) was a Welsh international rugby centre who played union for Newport and league with Barrow. Jarrett is most notable for his early appearances for the Wales national rugby union team where he set point scoring records. Jarrett switched to rugby league in 1969 but illness forced him to retire in 1973 at the age of 25.

Early career

Jarrett is the son of former Glamorgan cricketer Harold Jarrett and attended Monmouth School. Like his father he also played cricket for Glamorgan County Cricket Club. In 1966 Keith Jarrett played rugby union for Newport against Ebbw Vale, shortly after leaving school.

Cricket

Jarrett played for Glamorgan Second XI from 1965-67, appearing in two first class matches in 1967 - one each against the Indian and Pakistani tourists. He was a middle order bat and change right arm seam bowler.

International career

Jarrett played his first international for Wales on April 15, 1967, against England, still aged only eighteen. In that match he scored a try breaking from his own 22 metre line and running most of the length of the pitch. He also converted the try from just inside the touchline. That try has been voted seventh in a poll of the top ten Welsh tries. In the same match, he totalled two penalty goals and five conversions. His performance on the field was so impressive that he made the cover of Rugby World magazine two months later.

Jarrett played for Wales at rugby union ten times in all, making his final appearance against Australia. In 1968 he set a club record of 30 points for Newport against Penarth and was selected for the 1968 British Lions tour to South Africa.

In 1969 Jarrett transferred to rugby league club Barrow, and also went on to play for the Welsh national rugby league side.

Later life

Jarrett's career was cut short in 1973, aged just 25, when he suffered a stroke resulting from a hemorrhage. He was unable to achieve his fullest potential.

External links

• Wales Rugby Union profile
• Welsh star sets Barrow record
• Back on the Wembley trail