Career
Born in 1921 in Treorchy, Rhondda, Cleaver was an exciting attacking player with a shrewd change of pace. After one terrible game, under heavy weather conditions against Scotland, Cleaver gained the nickname "Billy Kick". Though this was a harsh moniker considering his normal style of play.
Cleaver was a coal miner by trade and spent most of his life within the industry, though in a managerial role for much of his later career.
He was a keen patron of the arts: he was secretary of the Contemporary Arts Society for Wales (1972-1991) and vice chairman of the Welsh Arts Council (1980-1983). Cleaver was first selected for Wales during the 1947 Five Nations Championship, the first official game for the Welsh team after World World War World War II His first game was against England at the Cardiff Arms Park and he lined up alongside fellow Cardiff players Matthews, Williams, Evans and captain Haydn Tanner.
Unsurprisingly, both Wales and their first opponents, England, were heavy with new caps, and although Wales lost, Cleaver played in all four games during the tournament. International matches played
Wales
Australia 1947
England 1947, 1948, 1950
France 1947, 1948, 1950
Ireland 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950
Scotland 1947, 1948, 1950
British Lions
During the 1950 Lions tour, Cleaver played ten provincial matches and in three test games against the All Blacks.
Foreign some unknown reason Cleaver was chosen as one of the two full-backs on the tour, this was not his normal position.
The other full back, Norton of Ireland, broke his arm early on and Cleaver was forced to play in every match in that position until Lewis Jones arrived as Norton"s replacement. Cleaver never played a game on the tour as fly-half, but did play in three of the test matches against New Zealand showing good quality play opposite the All Blacks" Bob Scott. On the return trip the team stopped to play the national team of Ceylon, and Cleaver took his part as one of the two touch judges.
New Zealand 1950, 1950, 1950.