PHOTO:
Gareth Edwards, Alun Wyn Bevan and Bill Carne

The large queues at the Victoria Book Shop in Haverfordwest on a damp and dreary Thursday morning paid tribute to the fact that in attendance to sign his new book was a real Welsh legend of rugby.
 
Sir Gareth Edwards, still regarded by most pundits as the greatest Welsh scrum half ever, played for Cardiff, Wales, the British Lions and the Barbarians, awarded 53 Welsh Caps in a golden era where Wales won seven championships and three grand slams, and 10 with the Lions, which included success in New Zealand (1971) and South Africa (1974).
 
On 21st November 2001, Edwards was voted the "Greatest Welsh Player of all time" at a rugby dinner held at the Cardiff International Arena by the 'Welsh Rugby Former International Players' Association' and First Press Events Company – and in a poll of international rugby players conducted in 2003 by Rugby World magazine, Edwards was declared the greatest player of all time
 
He was joined in Haverfordwest by former top rugby referee Alun Wyn Bevan, who had collaborated with Edwards, as he had previously done with the likes of Phil Bennett, in the compilation of this bright and breezy collection of great tries scored over the decades.
 
Ironically though, Sir Gareth had to be persuaded to include his epic try for the Barbarians against New Zealand, also thought by many to be the greatest try in rugby’s televised history, with other tries featured coming from right up to the present date, all superbly backed up by top class photographs.
 
Marley Davies, owner of the Victoria Book Shop said;
“It is always a pleasure to have such an international sporting star sign book with us and Gareth Edwards was certainly one of our most popular visitors.”
 
Sir Gareth Edwards told Pembrokeshire Sport:
“I have long had an affinity with Pembrokeshire, originally through work as a young man, and through my interest in fishing on a number of occasions since – and it has been great this morning to meet so many Pembrokeshire people interested in my book."
 
Signed copies of ‘Great Rugby Moments’, published by Gomer Press, are still available at the Victoria Book Shop in Haverfordwest – and make an ideal Christmas present for any rugby lovers!