Grand Slam hero Martyn Williams joined a host of fans, former players, senior rugby administrators, WRU Board members and even BBC Radio Wales presenter Roy Noble at the game in Mountain Ash. Sizzling summer weather was matched by some sparkling rugby as the Welsh Academicals RFC took on a combined Mountain Ash and Aberdare XV at Y Parc Dyffryn Pennar.
Eight tries were scored in an end to end game which saw the Academicals triumph 36-10 last Sunday (11th May 2008), but the valleys team were never far out of touch as they even claimed the final try of the game in front of a delighted local crowd. Proceeds from the game will go to Cancer Support (Cynon Valley) and the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust.
WRU President Dennis Gethin said: “It was a great game of rugby and a truly fitting tribute to a man whose name will live on, not just because of what he achieved, but also because he was a fine human being. Keith was a great friend of mine and it was a delight to join his family at the match where so many friends gathered to remember him.
“I want to pay a special tribute to all the players who took part because on the hottest day of the year so far they gave their all to deliver some great rugby entertainment until the final whistle. Keith would have appreciated a great Mountain Ash rugby day.”
At half time in the match Martyn Williams displayed the Grand Slam and Triple Crown trophies on the pitch to the applause of players and fans, but the real hero of the day was Keith Rowlands who spent most of his school years attending Aberdare Boys Grammar School in the Cynon Valley before attending London University.
As a player he represented Aberaman, London Welsh, Llanelli, Cardiff, The Barbarians, Wales and the British and Irish Lions. After his playing days he became a renowned rugby administrator he went on to mastermind the development of the Rugby World Cup and rose to be a director and eventually Chief Executive of the IRB. He became President of the WRU in 2004 but in 2006 the rugby world mourned his untimely death from a heart attack.
Keith Rowlands was a President of the Welsh Academicals side which was founded 80 years ago in Mountain Ash.
