Barry-born Geoff Beckingham was a hugely loyal Cardiff servant, making 331 appearances for the club and winning three Welsh caps.
His international opportunities were limited by the presence of the great Bryn Meredith, but Beckingham’s finest hour came in Cardiff’s legendary 8–3 victory over the All Blacks in November 1953.
The hooker’s work at scrum-time was instrumental in creating the platform for Cardiff’s two early tries, while his intervention at the end of the match proved equally crucial. With New Zealand threatening Cardiff’s line, Beckingham stole their put-in at the third scrum, allowing Cliff Morgan to clear to safety and secure one of the club’s most famous victories.
He also featured in Cardiff’s 1957 victory over Australia. Away from rugby, Beckingham worked as a municipal gardener in Barry and famously credited his remarkable fitness to pushing the town’s lone lawnmower for 15 hours a day during the summer.
