NEWPORT rugby legends joined friends and family yesterday to celebrate the life of one of the city's greatest ever players.

More than 200 packed the small St Teilo's Church in Alway to pay tribute to Glyn David Davidge, a former Newport, Wales and British Lions player, who died at the age of 72 after a short illness.

The tributes were led by fellow Wales and Newport rugby legend Dai Watkins, who said: "Today we do not mourn, but celebrate the life of Glyn Davidge.

"He was a celebrated sportsman."

He told mourners Glyn, known as Dav, played in 270 games for Newport between 1952 and 1965.

In that time he scored 28 tries, 13 in one season from 1961-62. He captained the side from 1962-63, and was picked as a replacement in the 1962 British Lions tour in South Africa.

He played three games after being brought on as replacement, but Mr Watkins said: "So many of us thought he should have been first choice."

As a number eight forward who occasionally played flanker, Glyn represented Wales on nine occasions, playing his first match in 1959 in France, and his last in 1962 at the Arms Park.

Mr Watkins said: "Dav made a habit of turning on the style against overseas touring sides, and played in the historic victory over New Zealand in 1963.

"In that match he frustrated the All Blacks, but they left Dav with stud marks all over his body."

Mr Watkins rounded off his touching tribute by saying: "Dav was an iron man, a hero of Newport Rugby Club. We will all miss him."

Mourners sang the hymns Abide With Me and a rousing version of Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah, which Glyn Davidge would have heard many times on the rugby field, sung by passionate Welsh rugby fans.

Newport Male Voice Choir singer Clive Lemmon gave an emotional rendition of Calon Lan, one of Glyn's favourite songs.

Canon Terry Palmer rounded off the service by saying Glyn Davidge was "a very remarkable and distinguished sportsman who brought great cheer to Newport".