TED DEXTER would have been amused to be classed in the same bracket as Carwyn James and Clem Thomas. By standing for Parliament, England’s imperious batsman set an example which two of Welsh rugby’s more colourful characters followed.
All three failed to reach the Commons. In 1964, Dexter vowed to give up cricket to serve Cardiff south-east, an empty gesture as the sitting member was James Callaghan.
James stood for Plaid Cymru’s in Llanelli in 1970 only to fall short just as Thomas had done on a Liberal platform for Gower, a seat won for Labour four years ago by Welsh rugby international...