Mural to rugby legend unveiled near family home
A GIANT mural of a late Welsh rugby legend has been painted on the side of a rugby club in his home village - which his family can see from their doorstep.
Mynyddygarreg Rugby Club now has an eye-catching tribute adorned on one of its walls to the village’s most famous son, Ray Gravell.
The much-loved former player, who went on to become a respected broadcaster, died aged 56 in 2007 after he was taken ill while on holiday in Spain.
He was part of the Llanelli side that famously beat New Zealand on October 31 1972 during the All Blacks’ tour of Britain, and won 23 caps for his country, whilst also making the 1980 Lions tour to South Africa, playing in all four Tests.
Now a permanent reminder of Ray Gravell has been painted in the place he loved by Steve Jenkins, whose street art has become well known across Llanelli.
The mural’s design was created by Karl Morgan, of Facing West Prints.
Mr Morgan said: “He is one of those people when you think of Wales, you think of Grav.
“I like playing with images - I’m a graphic design and print maker, and it was one of those things.
“The mural at the rugby club was inspired by Shepard Fairey’s Obey image.
“I’d shown it to Grav’s daughters and they really liked it.
“I got in touch with Steve Jenkins who had been doing all the graffiti around Llanelli.
“He rang me up some time after our chat and said ‘I’ve got somewhere’.
“I asked where, and he said Mynyddygarreg Rugby Club, and I thought, that’s brilliant.
“It’s a great location in Grav’s village which he loved so much, overlooking the pitch, and looking up at his family home on the mountain.
“I think he’d be really chuffed with this. He was a larger than life character who embodied Wales and Welsh culture.”