Colin Charvis has agreed to roll back the years by appearing in James Hook’s testimonial game this summer.
©Getty Images
Former Wales captain Colin Charvis
The former Wales captain joins Mike Phillips and Shane Williams, who have already signed up for the game at Gnoll on June 10. A thousand tickets were sold within four days of going on sale and organizers are delighted with the response.
“That says a lot about what people think of James,” said Matt’s Church, managing director of Cambria Sports Group, which organizes the event. “He’s a hugely popular guy and people want to support him and watch those who have established themselves as Welsh rugby legends over the years.”
Read more: The verdict of James Hook, modest Welsh rugby rider
There’s no doubt that Charvis fits the bill on that front. One of Wales’ greatest back rowers, he captained the team 22 times, including the 2003 World Cup, and wore the red shirt 94 times. There have also been two Tests for the Lions and consistent excellence for his clubs including London Welsh and Swansea.
Perhaps his greatest international performance came in 2004, when he emerged with huge credit from a game with Richie McCaw as Wales lost 26-25 to New Zealand in Cardiff. Charvis made the legendary Kiwi look deadly that day, edging the breakdown battle and covering acres of ground around the pitch, shaking the All Blacks along the way with the ferocity of his tackle.
There was also a memorable relationship with the media, but no one doubted the quality of Charvis. His former third line international colleague Martyn Williams once named him to a Wales dream team he had played with, saying: “What a player, just tough as nails. He might not have been the crowd’s favorite player for some reason, but he was just a phenomenal player, a true warrior. He could play anywhere in the back row – 6, 7 or 8. He was just fantastic. You can find out more here.
Hook has also secured the services of another Welsh international, Aled Brew. Once, when asked who his best friend in rugby, Hook replied with a dozen names but was keen to add some details about Brew, a powerhouse runner who played nine times for Wales between 2007 and 2012. “I started with Aled at the Ospreys academy and we went to Neath College together.” Hook said. “He’s a great mate.”
Tickets for the game can be purchased at NeathRFC.com
