90-year-old rugby pals back in touch

Over the course of just a few days, Newport's rugby team took on and defeated Nuneaton, London Welsh and the Barbarians.

The Barbarians had already been beaten by Penarth, Cardiff and Swansea during their tour and those victories over Easter 1946 are even more remarkable as the Newport players would also have put in a full working week.

Two of the members of that triumphant team celebrated their 90th birthdays last month and are probably the oldest surviving Newport rugby players.

Alf Panting and Murrell Chatwin had not been in contact since their playing days but then Mr Panting spotted an article about his former team-mate's wartime heroism in the South Wales Argus and they have since spoken over the phone.

Both began playing as schoolboys - Pill-born Mr Panting had three town caps and was a reserve for the Welsh under-15s while Mr Chatwin, of Pontnewydd, Cwmbran, was captain of the Eastern Valley team and narrowly missed out on a Welsh place, due to selector bias, despite being tipped by the South Wales Argus.

"I loved the game, it was part of me," remembered Mr Chatwin who was still a teenager when he was selected for Newport.

Players were amateurs then and Mr Chatwin worked on the railway at Aberbeeg.

"I would bike to work from Pontnewydd to Aberbeeg and then back home for lunch and then go down to Newport to play the game."

Mr Chatwin had looked set to be chosen to play for his country but a rugby injury ruled him out. After war broke out he joined the Welsh Guards, where his bravery won him the Military Medal, and he later resumed his career with Newport.

Mr Panting played for Newport High School Old Boys, was a member of Pill Harriers during their "invincible" season of 1932-33 and had a season with Lydney before joining Newport.

Like Mr Chatwin and the others, he received no pay but was given a blazer. Mr Panting went on to become a long-serving official at Newport.