He was selected to play openside flanker for the Past XV which took on the Present XV at Cefn Cribbwr rugby club near Bridgend. The Group Chief Executive of the Welsh Rugby Union grew up in the village and is President of the WRU National League Five South-Central team.
The Boxing Day fixture was mirrored by hundreds of similar games across Wales on a day when social rugby takes centre stage in towns and villages. At Cefn Cribbwr the Past team beat the Present by five tries to four in a non-contact and no goal kicks match watched by more than 150 people.
Roger Lewis said: “My two sons, Tom and Owen, played in the centre so it really was a treat for me to take part. Rugby has so much to offer at all levels and games like this one are the glue which helps bond our communities together.
“There must always be a place for grass roots rugby to celebrate its importance to village life and I am proud to help champion that. It was all about having fun and blowing away a few Christmas cobwebs and it certainly did that. I managed to last the game and I think I tried to stay away from too much rough and tumble.”
Before the match the Cefn Cribbwr U15 players staged a skills exhibition and a touch rugby match to show how the club is now helping develop new talent for the future. Then as the matches were being played a collection took place to raise money for a local cancer charity.
Club stalwart Emrys Jenkins said: “We had about 30 players turn up for the Past XV so it proves this sort of match is as popular as ever. I spoke to one man here who remembers taking part in a Boxing Day fixture in the 1930s at Cefn Cribbwr so it has become part of the tradition of Christmas.
“It is a big day for a club like ours and I am delighted it attracts such a following and proves how important we are to life in this village. We are delighted Roger took part and I really hope he turns up to lace up his boots and have a run out again next year.”
