FORMER rugby star Scott Quinnell brought a Welsh touch to Westfields Football Club’s sell-out Sportsman’s Dinner.

The 41-year-old former Wales, British Lions and Llanelli powerhouse was the guest speaker at the popular annual event last Thursday.

Scott told the 300-strong audience he was ‘only the seventh best rugby player in his family.’ Scott’s father, Derek Quinnell, played rugby union for Wales, with his brother Craig also played for the national team.

His uncle is the legendary Welsh player Barry John and his godfather, the late Merv ‘The Swerve’ Davies.

Scott, who lives near Usk, won 52 caps for Wales, scoring 12 tries. He also played Rugby League for Wigan and Wales.

The former forward spoke about Scott Gibbs’ memorable try against England at Wembley in 1999 and an ill-fated boxing match between Brian O’Driscoll and Austin Healey on a Lions tour in 2001.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the rugby theme proved popular throughout the night and the auction raised almost £4,000 for the football club. A signed Wales rugby union shirt went under the hammer for £410, with four tickets to watch Gloucester RFC and a three-course meal fetching £400.

A Llanelli Scarlets’ rugby shirt, signed by the squad and Quinnell, also raised £300. Westfields chief executive Andy Morris was delighted with the evening, at The Three Counties Hotel, praising Kenny Powell and John Hollingshead, long-term supporters of the annual function.

An additional item in the auction – a golf experience for four people at three of the country’s top courses - raised £1,500 for the Alzheimer's Society.

l WESTFIELDS followed up on Saturday with their third successive away success in the Midland Alliance, a 2-0 victory at Walsall Wood. Brad Birch fired Fields ahead after only eight minutes and added a second 15 minutes later.

Solid defending in the second period, which included a penalty save by Matt Gwynne, helped the city side move into the top 10.