SHANE LEADS A PARADE OF STARS
SHANE Williams was among a host of former Wales heroes to dust off their boots and return to the field on Saturday for Paul James’s testimonial match.
Thousands of fans descended on The Gnoll to watch the stars of yesteryear take part in the one-off contest.
Amman Valley legend Williams was joined by former Scarlets Dafydd James, Lee Byrne, John Davies, Mark Taylor and Rob McCusker as a Paul James Select XV took on a Classic Lions side.
Wales’s all-time record try-scorer was one of the big star attractions of the day and he matched up to his billing.
Everyone had been hoping to see one more moment of magic from him on the ground where he first made his name, and it arrived in the 17th minute.
Receiving the ball inside his own 22, he burst up the left and sidestepped two defenders in trademark fashion before sending his old pal Byrne away to the line.
There were also a couple of pieces of heroics in defence before the 42-year-old was forced to call it a day when he limped off during the second half.
But the great entertainer had proved that he’s definitely still got it.
Fellow former British Lion Dafydd James, now 43, still looked like he could do a job at a decent level, even at that age.
Playing in the centre, he set the ball rolling by making the first telling break of the match and crossed for two tries as he led by example as skipper of the Classic Lions.
Meanwhile, it was just a normal Saturday for former Llanelli and Wales prop John Davies, who is now 50 but was playing club rugby for Crymych last season.
He is not quite as mobile as he was, but the ex-Neath tighthead still managed to produce one of the moments of skill of the day with a lovely flick pass out of the back door in the first half.
Another former player who still looks the part is Mark Taylor.
He’s now 46 and hung up his boots a decade ago, but you wouldn’t guess it as the ex-Wales centre can still run those classic lines and still takes some stopping when in full flow.