RUGBY is in the blood for one Gwent family - and tomorrow's Wales v England clash will prove to be a classic case of divided loyalties.

Because while Blackwood's Ron Thomas is a proud Welshman who would love to see the home side put one over on the English visitors, he will love watching his great nephew Andrew Hazell make his Six Nations debut for England.

Mr Thomas predicts a win for Wales but a man-of-the-match award for Andrew, who has previously donned the England jersey against Canada.

Mr Thomas said: "We are very proud of him. When he was young, his parents asked him what he wanted to be and he said a professional rugby player and he's done it."

Gloucester ace Andrew could have played for Wales, but Clive Woodward just beat Graham Henry in the race to sign him up, his proud relatives say.

Andrew's grandmother Olga Dalby, ne Thomas, was one of a family of 13 children from Cefn Fforest in Blackwood.

She and two of her sisters went to work in service in Gloucester where she later married and settled down. Many of her family still live in the Blackwood area.

Mr Thomas, of Lilian Road, said Mrs Dalby was looking forward to the match.

He said: "She's a bag of nerves but she's as pleased as Punch."

Another of her brothers, Maldwyn, said he had contacted Graham Henry, then the Welsh coach, some years ago to tell him about his talented young relative and was put in touch with John Bevan, then under-21 coach - but nothing came of that initial approach.

"Then Andrew played for Gloucester in the English Cup and it was shown on Sky. Graham Henry rang him at home about joining the Welsh set up but Clive Woodward (then English coach) had been in touch the night before," Maldwyn said.

However, he felt Andrew's grandfather, Gloucester-born Ken Dalby, who died some years ago, would have been delighted he was playing for his home country.

Mr Dalby and his wife helped Andrew's mum Gail bring up the budding star.