CLIVE Burgess, one of the Gwent Valleys' most dynamic and hard-working of Welsh international flankers, died suddenly yesterday at his Ebbw Vale home at the age of 55.

Manmoel-born Mr Burgess, who leaves a widow, Susan, and grown-up daughters Carlie and Ceri, was also one of the most loyal of players.

He represented junior club Croesyceiliog before joining Ebbw Vale in the early 1970s, playing more than 250 games before leaving to play for Brescia, in Italy, thus becoming one of the first Welsh players to ply his trade abroad.

He won nine Welsh caps between 1977 and 1982, including being a member of a Wales Triple Crown-winning team, and was Welsh player of the year in 1981.

His first senior cap, after representing Wales Districts and Wales B, was against Ireland in Cardiff on January 15, 1977, when he scored his only international try in a 25-9 win.

His final cap was against Scotland on March 20, 1982, in a 34-18 defeat while he also played for the Barbarians. In recent years he ran his own business distributing gas cylinders.

Trevor Meyrick, chairman of the Ebbw Vale former players' association and best man at Mr Burgess' wedding, said: "Not only was he a great player, but he was a great friend and will be missed by everyone."

Former Ebbw Vale official Ivor George was secretary of the club at the time when Mr Burgess played for them, and today described him as "an immensely strong but immensely fair player. He was dubbed the Iron Claw by a well-known journalist at the time because once he had hold of you he never let go."

Mr George added: "He was a one-position player, a blindside wing forward of the old school.

"I knew him when I was warden of a youth centre at Garnlydan and a few years later, in my capacity as Ebbw Vale's 'poacher', I was told about his rugby ability and went to watch him play for Wales Districts against Belgium at Pontypool Park.

"I was so impressed I went fully clothed into the showers after the game to ask him to sign for Ebbw Vale, and he played for us on the Saturday."