MORE than 400 family members, friends and team-mates were at St Mary's Church, Chepstow, to say farewell to former rugby player Jonathan Preece.

The father of three, who was to marry his fiancee, Tracey Read, as soon as he was well enough, died the day after his 43rd birthday on August 6 after a four-year battle with cancer.

Mr Preece played as a back-row flanker for Chepstow School, every level of Chepstow Rugby Club and Cardiff and Ely before playing first-class rugby for Ebbw Vale.

At St. Mary's, team-mates from a career that spanned nearly 30 years and several continents on tour, stood silently and wept for their friend.

One simply stood and stared down at a rugby ball he was cradling in his hands with the Welsh flag and Cymru printed on it.

The service, led by the Rev Christopher Blanchard, included two hymns, Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah and Praise My Soul The King of Heaven as well as Welsh language hymn Calon Lan sung sombrely but beautifully by friend Richard Harris.

Mr Preece's older sister Sarah Harrison read a piece of verse and close friend and team-mate Richard Ford read a eulogy, telling the congregation that Mr Preece was a "comic legend".

Describing Mr Preece's defiant reaction to his illness Mr Ford said: "Jonathan's chosen remedy to his horrendous illness was cider and cigarettes.

"Now the angels of heaven are his family, as are we." Friends said afterwards it was his personality which made Mr Preece "a legend" as well as his ability on a rugby pitch.

Chris Sull, 43, went to school with Mr Preece and played rugby with him for Chepstow.

He said: "He was a born comedian, the life and soul of the party, the centre of attention and was always there for those he loved.

"He was very intelligent and had the longest list of bad jokes memorised which he used regularly."

Mr Preece's brother David said: "He had such energy and humour, he was like five people rolled into one."