The Welsh Sports Hall of Fame ‘Roll of Honour’ has grown to 195 inductees from 31 different sports after the addition of 12 newcomers this year.
The first to be added were Robert Jones (rugby union) and Robert Croft (cricket) at a sporting dinner in Cardiff. There were then six inductions at a special lunch at the Parkgate Hotel to celebrate Cardiff City’s 125th anniversary season.
As well as adding the Cardiff City founding father, Bartley Wilson, former international stars Ernie Curtis and Len Davies joined the most elite list in Welsh sport. While they were all posthumous entries, Wales’ first 100 cap footballer Chris Gunter became the 28th football to be acknowledged.
At the same event, one of Britain’s greatest ice hockey players, Cardiff-born Jonathan Phillips and the Olympic athlete turned Welsh rugby international Nigel Walker were also welcomed onto the ‘Roll of Honour’.
The current Wales rugby union men’s team manager Martyn Williams, who won 100 caps for Wales as a player and went on three British & Irish Lions tours, was added at a special charity evening at the Parkgate Hotel.
The second annual Welsh Sports Hall of Fame lunch in Pembrokeshire, held at the recently re-vamped St Bride’s Hotel in Saundersfoot, saw three more additions to the ‘Roll of Honour’. The Tenby-born John Fowke, the first Welshman to play international cricket, albeit for New Zealand, was a posthumous addition, while the adventurer Tori James, the first Welsh woman to climb Everest, followed Sir Charles Evans onto the list as a mountaineer.
The former British rally car champion Dai Llewellin, from Haverfordwest, was the final name added to the list as his sport became the 31st to be honoured.
“We’re delighted the list is growing and that so many sports have been embraced on the ‘Roll of Honour’. The 195 Welsh sportsmen and women we have recognised over the past 35 years prove just how successful a nation Wales is in the sporting arena,” said WSHoF president, Lynn Davies.
“We aim to continue with our outreach programme by taking events beyond the Welsh capital and the reception we have received in Pembrokeshire has been superb. There are so many great stories to tell, and so many great athletes to honour, all over the country.
“We hope to reach 200 ‘Roll of Honour’ members at our annual dinner at the Parkgate Hotel on Thursday, 23 October.”
The full list of additions to the ‘Roll of Honour’ in the past three years are as follows:
2025: Robert Croft (Cricket), Ernie Curtis (Football), Len Davies (Football), John Fowke (Cricket), Chris Gunter (Football), Tori James (Adventurer), Robert Jones (Rugby Union), Dai Llewellin (Rallying), Jonathan Phillips (Ice Hockey), Nigel Walker (Athletics / Rugby Union), Martyn Williams (Rugby Union), Bartley Wilson (Cardiff City)
2024: Ivor Anthony (Equestrian), Owen Anthony (Equestrian), Jamie Baulch (Athletics), Liza Burgess (Rugby Union), Agnes Davies (Snooker), Ron Davies (Hockey), Bill Griffiths (Hockey), Liz Johnson (Para Swimming), Adam Jones (Rugby Union), Chris Jones (Water polo), Dick Palmer (BOA Administrator), Lloyd Phillips (Gymnastics), Bilbie Rees (Equestrian), James Roberts (Wheelchair Rugby), Iwan Thomas (Athletics), Wales 1908 Olympic Team (Hockey)
2023: John Bevan (Rugby League / Union), Enzo Calzaghe (Boxing), John Chambers (Athletics Administrator), Tom David (Union / League) , John Devereux (Rugby League / Union), Suzy Drane (Netball), Llewelyn Kenrick (Football Administrator), Jim Mills (Rugby League), Richard Mullock (Rugby Administrator), Derek Quinnell (Rugby Union), John Taylor (Rugby Union), Delme Thomas (Rugby Union), Helen Ward (Football), Leah Wilkinson (Hockey)
In addition, Cardiff Swimming Club (2024) and Matthew Evans (2025), founder of the Wales Ironman and Long Course triathlon weekends in Tenby, were presented with Lord Brooks Awards for their outstanding services to Welsh sport, while Lynn Davies and outgoing WSHoF chair Laura McAllister were presented with the highest honour for services to Welsh sport, the ‘Rhodri’, at the 2024 annual event.
24.10.24 – Welsh Sports Hall of Fame 33rd Roll of Honour Dinner, Parkgate Hotel, Cardiff – Iwan Thomas is inducted into the Welsh Sport Hall of Fame as Jamie Baulch presents him with his award24.10.24 – Welsh Sports Hall of Fame 33rd Roll of Honour Dinner, Parkgate Hotel, Cardiff – Liza Burgess is inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame as she is presented with her award by Sir Gareth Edwards and Nigel Walker24.10.24 – Welsh Sports Hall of Fame 33rd Roll of Honour Dinner, Parkgate Hotel, Cardiff – Liz Johnson and Jim Roberts are inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame
