Jonny makes a break for St Helens against Wigan.

How did you get started in sport?

Like a lot of other youngsters it was in the back garden at home. We had moved from Carmarthen to the Isle of Wight and my dad Ron was a useful sportsman so my older brother Adrian and I just followed. I represented the Isle of Wight in athletics (pole vault and javelin), basketball, football (as a sweeper), rugby and cricket.

How did you get involved in rugby?

I didn't start to play until I was almost 15 and within six months of starting out in schools rugby I was playing for Sandown Shanklin Hurricanes in the senior game. My uncle was Jeff Williams, the Carmarthen Quins' coach and he was apoplectic since it would never be allowed to happen in Wales. It was shortly afterwards that I moved back to Carmarthen for rugby and I played for the Quins' Youth alongside the great Ieuan Evans.

Tell us about your early successes.

I was thrilled to be selected at scrum half for the Welsh Youth alongside Ieuan, with Ben Childs from Tenby as my outside half. We beat England at Gloucester, which was brilliant, and after that I was invited to go for a trial with the Scarlets. I was also asked to go to Neath because Ron Waldron, the Welsh Youth coach, was at The Gnoll, but I joined Llanelli and never regretted it for a moment.

What was it like to play at Stradey Park?

It was amazing to go into the dressing room with so many stars like Ray Gravel and I was competing with Mark Douglas until he left for London Welsh and Mike Griffiths, from Neyland, joined us. I played 280 games for the Scarlets and managed to score 69 tries.

What successes did you have with the Scarlets?

The undoubted highlights were playing in three Welsh Cup Finals at the National Stadium and winning two of them. On our first visit we met a Cardiff side that were firm favourites as Terry Holmes and Gareth Davies were their half backs. But I scored a try, Gary Pearce nudged us to victory with a last-ditch drop goal, and at 22 I was chosen man of the match and felt on top of the world. We also beat Neath when Jonathan Davies was my partner at half back. He had just joined us from the All Blacks and they sent him a bereavement card prior to the game - which was just the spur he needed to tear them to bits as we won again.

My last appearance wasn't third time lucky since we lost to Neath but I'll never forget playing in front of such big and noisy crowds.

Where did this take you?

I was chosen to play for Wales B at Pontypridd against France and I also captained the B team before being selected for the full squad. The problem for me in those days was the fact that Robert Jones was the first choice scrum half and replacements could only be made after an injury was checked by a doctor - and he never got injured. I was one of those unlucky players who could be nicknamed the Judge because I sat on the bench so often. At least I played for my country but I can't help thinking that I would have had a lot more with today's tactical substitutions!

How many times did you play for Wales?

I played six times in all but four of them were against the likes of Italy, Argentina, Spain and Rumania, which weren't regarded as test matches in those days. I made my debut for the full Welsh side in Auckland against a New Zealand team led by flanker Michael Jones and although we lost I will never forget running out in front of Phil May with my red jersey on. I also played a full international against Scotland at Murrayfield and my only regret is not gaining a full Welsh cap in front of my own people in Cardiff.

What was it like playing up north?

I decided to move in 1988/89 because I felt I was banging my head against a brick wall with the Welsh selectors and Alex Murphy asked me to play professional rugby league for St Helens. He was a rough and tough character and perhaps saw some of himself in me because we became good pals - and so did Roy Haggerty, a very hard forward who appointed himself as my minder.

The pace of the games were incredible and I was making four times as many tackles as back at home, and watching out for some big hits by seasoned pros - but I soon settled.

Did you enjoy success there?

In 1992 was selected for Great Britain against France to complete my double of union and league caps, another big moment in my career. I missed out on a tour to Australia because of injury but reached the Rugby League Cup Final at Wembley after The Saints beat hot favourites Widnes, Jonathan Davies, Martin Offiah and all, in the semi final at Wigan. I scored two tries, was man of the match and was carried off the field by delighted supporters.

We took on Wigan in the final and eventually lost 13-8 but it was the most amazing day out with our fans cheering us as if their lives depended upon it. I played at St Helens with greats like Gary Connolly, Kieran O'Cunningham and Bobby Goulding. I bumped into an old rival in Andy Gregory recently and it was great to re-live old memories.

Why did you leave rugby league?

I still hankered after home and the rules were changed regarding professionals in Wales and so I rejoined Llanelli and then moved west to Tenby, where I had a season and a half. Brian Stephens (Haverfordwest) invited me to be player/coach with the Blues and I had four lovely seasons at Merlins Bridge before finishing off with my fire brigade mate Ricky Evans for a season at Cardigan when I was 36.

So was that the end of your rugby days?

No because I played for five seasons with the Classic Lions in the World Rugby Classic in Bermuda alongside the likes of JPR Williams and John O'Driscoll (Ireland). I was chosen by managers Willie-John McBride and Allan Martin to be captain in my second season and it was great to be joined there for a while by Andrew Morgan and then Andrew Thicker when they played in South Africa. During my time I also played for the Barbarians in Hong Kong and other places, plus Crawshays in South Africa when I was only 21.

Your brother Adrian tells us you played a bit of cricket, so tell us about it?

When I moved back to Wales as a nipper I played for Llanelli as an opening bat and actually played for Wales before Adrian did. I played over 20 times in all and had centuries against Cheshire and Shropshire, plus 90-plus against Ireland on two occasions. Adrian and I actually played half a dozen times together in the Welsh team and one of the highlights, before playing late on for Kilgetty and Haverfordwest, was scoring 150 against Carew in a Welsh Cup match. When I played in the Isle of Wight we always had a Hampshire benefit game each year and can remember the great Barry Richards slamming my brother for a huge six!

So are you involved these days?

I cycle to work every day and five of us, including Ricky Evans, Doc Halliday and Dean John cycled 700 miles in a week around Great Britain, fitting a smoke alarm in Wales, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Eire in the process and raising cash for charity. I have also done the odd triathlon and enjoy watching Welsh matches in Cardiff, where it is great to renew old acquaintances of a big time in my life!

9:39am Tuesday 18th March 2008

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