A MEMORIAL rugby match to remember the late Aberystwyth rugby legend Eifion Gwynne left members of the club “humbled” and “astounded” after 4,000 people attended.

Diwrnod Eifion, or Eifion’s Day, was held at Aberystwyth Rugby Club, Plascrug, on Bank Holiday Sunday, and featured a match between an Eifion Gwynne XV, made up of friends and former teammates, and a Welsh Legends XV, featuring the likes of Colin Charvis, Dafydd Jones and Garan Evans.

The match was followed by an auction and concerts from Meic Stevens and #band6.

All proceeds have gone to the Cronfa Goffa Eifion Gwynne Memorial Fund.

Mansel Beechey, who coached the Eifion Gwynne XV alongside Ray ‘Truck’ Evans and Brian ‘Stacky’ Isaac, told the Cambrian News this week: “It was a very humbling experience for everyone at the club – we knew he was popular, but to generate this much of a crowd and this much sponsorship proves how popular he was.

“We know how much we loved him, but this was an astounding response.

“Everyone gave their full commitment. The Welsh team and our team were fully committed, illustrated when Byron Thomas, who was awarded man of the match, suffered concussion.

“We all miss him terribly. It was an incredibly emotional day, but we all had lots and lots of fun because that’s what he would have wanted.”