Welsh Sports Hall of Fame
A Welsh charitable organisation that commemorates sporting achievement, preserves sporting artefacts, and recognises people who have brought distinction to Wales through sport.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Welsh Sports Hall of Fame (WSHOF) is a charitable organisation dedicated to celebrating Welsh sporting achievement and preserving material connected with the country’s athletes and sporting history. It was established in 1980 from the memorabilia collection of Welsh radio commentator G. V. Wynne-Jones. Rather than operating primarily as a commercial sports brand, the organisation functions as a heritage, recognition and archival institution: its central public activity is the selection of distinguished Welsh sporting figures for inclusion in its Roll of Honour. The Roll of Honour is intended for people whose achievements, conduct and example have brought credit to Wales both within and beyond the sporting arena. From 1990 onward, inductees were selected annually by a trustees committee drawing representation from areas including athletics, the media, universities and museums. This selection model gives the organisation a cross-sector character and places emphasis not only on competitive success but also on wider contribution, reputation and significance to Welsh sport. The organisation has also presented awards for outstanding service to Welsh sport. Its award structure includes the Lord Brooks Award for Outstanding Services to Welsh Sport, previously known as the WSHOF Special Award for Outstanding Services to Welsh Sport; the Peter Corrigan Welsh Sports Media Award, previously associated with Welsh Sports Journalist of the Year; and the Rhodri Morgan Memorial Award, commonly known as “The Rhodri.” The latter was introduced in 2018 in memory of former chairman and former First Minister of Wales Rhodri Morgan. The first recipient was the City of Cardiff, recognised for its service to and commitment to sporting excellence. The Hall of Fame exhibition has occupied several Welsh cultural and sporting locations. It was previously displayed at the Sports Council for Wales, South Glamorgan County Council and the Museum of Welsh Life. In 2009, the exhibition moved to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, linking the organisation’s heritage work with one of Wales’s principal sporting venues. Leadership has included prominent figures from Welsh public life and sport. Rhodri Morgan chaired the organisation until 2018, when Professor Laura McAllister CBE became chair. Lynn Davies CBE, the Olympic long-jump champion, was appointed president in the same year. The trustees committee includes figures associated with sport, journalism, education, museums and public affairs. Through its Roll of Honour, exhibition, awards and charitable activities, the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame serves as a national institution for remembering, interpreting and publicly honouring Wales’s sporting legacy.
History
The Welsh Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1980 to commemorate Welsh sporting achievement and safeguard artefacts associated with Welsh athletes. Its origins lay in the memorabilia collection of G. V. Wynne-Jones, a Welsh radio commentator. The organisation therefore developed from an existing body of sporting material into a broader charitable institution concerned with national memory, public recognition and the preservation of sporting heritage. A defining feature of the organisation is its Roll of Honour. Beginning in 1990, new inductees were selected annually by a trustees committee. The committee’s composition was designed to bring together perspectives from athletics, journalism and broadcasting, universities and museums, giving the selection process connections to both sporting practice and cultural interpretation. The Roll of Honour recognises individuals whose achievements, conduct and example have brought distinction to themselves and credit to Wales. This wording reflects an approach that values character and wider public contribution as well as medals, records or sporting fame. The Hall of Fame’s physical exhibition has appeared at several Welsh institutions. Earlier locations included the Sports Council for Wales, South Glamorgan County Council and the Museum of Welsh Life. In 2009, the exhibition moved to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. The move placed the collection in a major national sports venue and strengthened its relationship with contemporary Welsh sporting spectatorship. In addition to inductions, the organisation has developed awards for notable contributions to Welsh sport and sports media. The Lord Brooks Award recognises outstanding services to Welsh sport and was previously presented under the organisation’s special-award title. The Peter Corrigan Welsh Sports Media Award evolved from the Welsh Sports Journalist of the Year recognition. These awards extend the institution’s remit beyond athletes to include people whose work supports, documents or advances Welsh sport. A further development came in 2018 with the creation of the Rhodri Morgan Memorial Award, known informally as “The Rhodri.” The award commemorates Rhodri Morgan, who had chaired the organisation and was also a former First Minister of Wales. The inaugural recipient was the City of Cardiff, recognised for its service and commitment to sporting excellence. In the same period, Professor Laura McAllister CBE became chair, succeeding Morgan, while Olympic long-jump champion Lynn Davies CBE became president. The trustees committee has included representatives and contributors from Welsh sport, media, universities, museums and public life. Listed committee members include Jeff Andrews, Dave Cobner, Rob Cole, Carolyn Hitt, Peter Jackson, Dylan Jones, Nicky Piper, Dave Roberts, Clive Williams, Andrew Weeks, Phil Davies and Andrew Walker, alongside chair Laura McAllister and secretary Jeff Andrews. The organisation’s continuing role is to maintain the Roll of Honour, administer its recognition programmes and preserve public access to Welsh sporting history. Its work is primarily cultural and charitable, with Wales as its geographic and national focus.
- 2018
Rhodri Morgan Memorial Award introduced
[2]The organisation created an additional award in memory of former chair Rhodri Morgan; Cardiff received the first award.
- 2018
Leadership transition
[2]Laura McAllister became chair and Lynn Davies was appointed president.
- 2009
Exhibition moves to the Millennium Stadium
[1]The Hall of Fame exhibition moved to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff after earlier displays at Welsh civic, sporting and museum venues.
- 1990
Annual Roll of Honour selections begin
[1]A trustees committee began selecting inductees annually for the organisation’s Roll of Honour.
- 1980
Welsh Sports Hall of Fame established
[1]The organisation was created from the sporting memorabilia collection of Welsh radio commentator G. V. Wynne-Jones.
Products and positioning
A national Welsh sporting heritage and recognition institution rather than a commercial sports-equipment or event brand. Its distinctive role is to connect athlete commemoration, artefact preservation, public exhibition and annual awards for sporting and media contribution.
Sports recognition programme · 1990
Roll of Honour
The Welsh Sports Hall of Fame’s principal recognition programme honours people whose sporting achievements, conduct and example have brought distinction to themselves and credit to Wales. From 1990, selections were made annually by a trustees committee with experience spanning athletics, media, universities and museums. The Roll of Honour is therefore both an awards mechanism and a record of Welsh sporting memory.
Sports heritage exhibition
Hall of Fame exhibition
The exhibition presents the organisation’s heritage material and commemorates Welsh athletes and sporting achievement. It was previously displayed at the Sports Council for Wales, South Glamorgan County Council and the Museum of Welsh Life before moving to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in 2009.
Sporting contribution award
Lord Brooks Award for Outstanding Services to Welsh Sport
An award recognising outstanding services to Welsh sport. It was formerly known as the WSHOF Special Award for Outstanding Services to Welsh Sport and forms part of the organisation’s broader recognition of contributions beyond athletic performance.
Sporting contribution award · 2018
Rhodri Morgan Memorial Award
Known informally as “The Rhodri,” this award was added in 2018 to commemorate former chair Rhodri Morgan. Its first recipient was the City of Cardiff, recognised for service to and commitment to sporting excellence.
Sports media award
Peter Corrigan Welsh Sports Media Award
An award for contribution to Welsh sports media. It was formerly associated with the WSHOF Welsh Sports Journalist of the Year award and recognises the role of journalism and media work in documenting and supporting Welsh sport.
Brand decisions
2018
Create the Rhodri Morgan Memorial AwardOtherBackground
The organisation introduced an additional award to commemorate Rhodri Morgan, its former chair and a former First Minister of Wales.
Action taken
The new award, known as “The Rhodri,” was established and first presented to the City of Cardiff.
Aftermath
The award expanded the organisation’s recognition activities beyond the Roll of Honour and existing service awards.
2009
Move the Hall of Fame exhibition to the Millennium StadiumStrategyBackground
The organisation had previously displayed its collection at the Sports Council for Wales, South Glamorgan County Council and the Museum of Welsh Life.
Action taken
The exhibition was relocated to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Aftermath
The move situated the collection within a major Welsh sporting venue and continued the public exhibition of the organisation’s heritage material.
Sources3 sources
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