AFTER the 2019-2020 rugby season was declared null and void due to the pandemic, fans in the Cardigan area hoping for a return to action in the not too distant future have taken the opportunity to reminisce over top stars to emerge from Cardigan Secondary School.

Down the years numerous former pupils have turned out for various clubs in the WRU league system, others have represented their country as juniors, and some have paraded their skills at a very high level.

Four of them - Brynmor Williams, Paul Ringer, Ricky Evans and Wayne Proctor - went on to gain international honours with Williams also a British Lion.

And long before the famous four did the school proud, another former pupil Dilwyn Davies put Cardigan on the rugby map.

Scrum-half Williams, now aged 68, starred at union and league for Wales and it was rather unfortunate for him that his international union appearances were limited as he was around at the time of Gareth Edwards and Terry Holmes.

Paul Ringer gained notoriety as the Welsh International flanker sent off against England at Twickenham. The backrower, now aged 72, also played rugby league for his country.

Dubai-based firefighter Ricky Evans who was born and brought up in Aberporth, attended the school before joining the Army and did not take up rugby until he was 27.

A loose-head prop, the 59-year-old Llanelli front-rower was capped 19 times and made history when awarded damages in the French High Court against Olivier Merle over a head-butting incident in an international game.

Long-serving Llanelli winger Wayne Proctor, aged 47, won 39 caps, scoring 55 points, and in recent years has been heavily involved in coaching.

Older residents recall the time when front row forward Dilwyn Davies graced the first class scene in England and Wales.

Davies, who was born and brought up in Cardigan, and whose father ran Beri’s Taxis in the town centre, went from the school where Tom Evans was headmaster, to Oxford University.

A powerful, mobile hooker, he became a regular in the Oxford 1st XV and played in three varsity games against Cambridge University at Twickenham.

Davies was on the losing side in 1958, celebrated victory a year later and it was defeat in 1960.

He also turned out for his home town club, Swansea and Bridgend.

Obtaining a doctorate in metallurgy, he was a director of an international company in South Wales but sadly passed away in mid-life.