Barry Llewelyn, whose full name was Donald Barry Llewelyn, was born in 1948 in Ashton, Lancashire. He was educated at Llanelli Grammar School and developed his rugby career in South Wales, where Llanelli's industrial community and longstanding rugby culture provided the setting for his emergence as a front-row player.
Llewelyn attended Llanelli Grammar School before studying at Caerleon College of Education while playing for Newport. He later attended Loughborough College, where he qualified as a teacher. Caerleon belonged to the British teacher-training college tradition, while Loughborough had developed a particularly strong reputation for combining teacher education with competitive sport.
Llewelyn began his first-class career with Llanelli and joined Newport RFC in the 1968–1969 season while studying at Caerleon College of Education. He made his Newport debut at Pontypool on November 13, 1968, in a 6–5 victory. During the 1968–1969 and 1969–1970 seasons he made 39 appearances for Newport and scored six tries. Newport was one of the leading Welsh rugby clubs of the amateur era, and its competitive fixtures regularly involved prominent Welsh and touring international sides.
He made his Wales debut against South Africa on January 24, 1970. He won five of his 13 Welsh caps while with Newport and the remaining eight after returning to Llanelli in the 1970–1971 season. He scored his only international try against Scotland in 1972 and played in Wales's match against New Zealand on December 2, 1972. A knee injury interrupted his international career after 13 consecutive appearances.
Llewelyn also represented Carmarthen Athletic, Hendy, Newbridge, Loughborough College and the Barbarians. His Barbarians appearances included matches against South Africa, Scotland and Fiji in 1970, and he was selected for the proposed 1973 meeting with New Zealand before withdrawing because of injury. He later qualified as a teacher and subsequently owned and managed a sports-equipment shop in Tenby.
Represented Wales in 13 international rugby union matches between 1970 and 1972, scoring three points and one try as a prop.
Played at tighthead prop for Llanelli in the club's 9–3 victory over New Zealand at Stradey Park on October 31, 1972, one of the most notable wins in Welsh club rugby.
Made 39 appearances and scored six tries for Newport RFC during the 1968–1969 and 1969–1970 seasons.
Physical Characteristics: He was listed at approximately 6 feet 2 inches tall and 16 stone 3 pounds during his playing career.
