'All-time great' of Welsh club rugby dies aged 89

Tributes have been paid fol- lowing the death of an “all- time great” Pontypridd RFC player.

- ELLIE GOSLEY Reporter [e-mail]

The club yesterday said it was “devastated” following the news that club legend and “true gentleman” Graham Gittins had died at the age of 89.

Hundreds of people paid tribute to Gittins, who dedicated over 70 years of his life to the club as a player, captain and later supporter and official, with many saying it won't be the same without him on a match day.

Last year he was honoured by the club when it renamed the Gibby Bar at its Sardis Road ground the Graham Gittins Lounge, to recognise his longstanding contribution.

Playing as a prop forward, Gittins totalled 444 appearances for the club between 1954 and 1969.

In a tribute, the club said during his playing career Gittins “was regarded as one of the very best uncapped props in the Welsh game” but that, like many players for the so-called “unfashionable” clubs, he failed to attract the attention of the selectors.

Pontypridd said he might have got that cap had he moved to another club but “he remained loyal to Pontypridd RFC all of his long life”.