SCARLETS players and family members joined the team from the Torch for the launch of their new one-man show based on the life Wales rugby legend and cultural icon Ray Gravell this week.

The Torch Theatre Company successfully launched the tour of 'Grav' at Parc y Scarlets on Tuesday.

There was an excellent turnout at the event where key members of the Torch Theatre team behind the play were joined by Scarlets players, guests, sponsors and members of Ray Gravell’s family, all extremely excited to get a glimpse of Gareth Bale, actor, performing an excerpt of the new production Grav at pitch side.

The moment arrived and Bale didn’t disappoint, taking off Grav superbly, setting the scene, speaking in Grav’s west Walian tone, mimicking perfectly his build-up to Llanelli’s historic 9-3 victory against mighty New Zealand played back in October 31, 1972 in front of a capacity 26,000 spectators at Stradey Park.

Grav was the youngest player in the team on that unforgettable Halloween afternoon, and was portrayed as staying close to skipper Delme Thomas, who Grav says looked after him.

Having rubbed shoulders in the same Llanelli team as Grav back in the early 1980s, listening to Bale speaking sent a shiver down my spine, as his voice sounded extremely close to Grav’s, and my own fond memories of the charismatic character came flooding back as if it were yesterday.

The play is directed by Peter Doran and is written by Owen Thomas, with the blessing of Ray’s widow Mari, the setting at the theatre stage will be set in an old-fashioned changing room, and that’s where Bale will tell his many amusing and interesting tales of the iconic character.

At the official launch Jon Daniels, Scarlets chief operations officer, spoke of his relationship with Gravell at the club and also of the day he received a dreaded phone call from club president, the late Stuart Gallagher, informing him to arrange his funeral and told in no uncertain terms not to mess it up.

“I was nervous as there was a lot pressure, the eyes of the world were on us, but thankfully everything fell into place on the day,” said Daniels. “He truly was a fantastic man and I believe that this was the closest that many will have seen to a state funeral in Wales.”

His former school friend Adrian Howells, a member on the committee of the Ray Gravell Trust said: “When we were in class together at the age of 15 in Carmarthen, I remember taking algebra with our teacher Mr Llewellin, he asked everyone one particular day ‘what you want to do when you leave school?’ Grav’s answer was ‘play rugby for Wales sir’ and he went on to fulfil his ambition.”

Howells added: “The trust has been running for seven years and has raised a grand total of £742,000, where at least half a million of that money has been donated to charities and various organisations throughout communities in west Wales.

“Ray is fondly remembered for the phrase ‘west is best’ and I would like to say good luck to Gareth Bale as he certainly has some big boots to fill with this production.”

Grav runs at Torch Theatre, Milford Haven on February 4-15 and tickets are available from the Torch website www.torchtheatre.co.uk or from box office on 01646 695267. The show will then go on a 19 date tour of Wales.