Pontypool RFC is saddened by the news that ex-player and former Director of Rugby Alun Carter has passed away suddenly, aged 59.
Alun Jonathan Carter was born in Malpas, Newport on 13 December 1964. He was educated at Newcastle High School in Staffordshire, West Monmouth School in Pontypool, Kelly College in Tavistock and University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC).
Alun’s first sporting success at a national level was winning the Welsh Boys’ AAA 800 metres title in 1979.
A back row forward, Alun and made 2 appearances for the Wales Schools (Intermediate Group) in 1980. He went on to play 8 times for the Wales Schools (Senior Group) and was captain when Wales won the Schools Grand Slam in 1983. He made his Pontypool debut in the 27-25 home win over Bedford on 8 October 1983. Pontypool enjoyed much success in the 1980s and was the most successful club in the British Isles from1983 to 1986 – Alun was very much a part of that legacy. His last game for the club was at Ruthin in a WRU cup game which Pontypool won 47-3 on 18 November 1989. Alun made 141 appearances for Pooler, scoring 51 tries, 10 conversions and 6 penalties for a total of 242 points.
Alun joined Newport the following season, making his Black and Ambers debut on 1 September 1990 in the 51-14 win over Coventry at Rodney Parade and scored a try. His last appearance was on 11 May 1996 at Stradey Park when Llanelli ran out 56-22 winners. In total, Alun made 145 appearances for Newport, and scored 26 tries, 5 conversions, 1 penalty, totalling 136 points.
The highest point of Alun’s rugby-playing career came in the 1991 Five Nations when he gained 2 caps for Wales, against England at Cardiff Arms Park and Scotland at Murrayfield.
Alun also played for Gwent Under-15, Gwent Under-16, Gwent Under-17, UWIC, Welsh Students, Monmouthshire Under-23 (2 appearances), British Police (Over 10 appearances), British Combined Services and Police (5 appearances), Stade Olympique Millau (France), Cardiff (1 appearance), Pontypridd (1 appearance), Monmouthshire (2 appearances), Barbarians (1 appearance), World XV (1 appearance) and Wales B (1 appearance). He also represented Crawshay’s Welsh at Sevens.
Alun worked as a Researcher for the Centre of Performance Analysis (UWIC) from 1994 to 1999. They had contracts with many sports organisations to supply analysis – one of these was with the Welsh Rugby Union. From 1994 to 1998 he did the analysis on Welsh forward play, Doctor Gareth Potter did the analysis on Welsh back play and Doctor Keith Lyons delivered the analysis to the WRU. This included the national team and supplying material for the coaching courses and the referees department. Graham Henry offered Alun the opportunity to work for the national team directly in September 1998 and then the contract directly in September 1999 when he became Head of Match Analysis until July 2006, during which time Wales won the Grand Slam in 2005. He was also a member of the British & Irish Lions backroom team as Technical Assistant on the 2001 tour to Australia. From May 2008 to May 2013 he was Team Manager at Worcester RFC. He returned to Pontypool in September 2013 as a Consultant Adviser until June 2014 when he was made Director of Rugby at Pontypool Park until January 2015.
He wrote two books with Nick Bishop – Seeing Red – Twelve Tumultuous Years in Welsh Rugby in 2008 and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – The Rise and Fall of Pontypool RFC in 2013.
Everyone at Pontypool RFC sends their deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to Alun’s family and close friends at this very sad and extremely difficult time.
