DaiWatkins

David Watkins, originally from the mining community of Blaina in north Gwent, did not pick up a rugby ball until he was 15.

But just three years later, the jet-heeled fly-half was thrust into the spotlight as part of the all-star Newport team of the early 1960s.

And it was in 1963 that he started to capture the imagination of the world – guiding Newport to an historic win over the All Blacks as captain after the start of his Wales career.

His crowning moment came at the age of 24 however when he became a Lion, starting all six Tests against Australia and New Zealand.

Watkins captained the side in two Tests and scored six points in a 31-0 humbling of the Wallabies, his best performance of Tour in which he played an incredible 21 matches all told.

Upon his return to the British Isles, he was displaced by Barry John in the Wales side and elected to join rugby league side Salford in 1967 – where he accumulated nearly 3,000 points in a 12-year career.