THE funeral of a young rugby player from Talywain who died suddenly on January 2 will be held next week.

Garndiffaith RFC second row Dale Llewellyn died aged 25 at Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny.

His funeral will be held at St Peter’s Church in Blaenavon on Thursday, January 17, at 2pm, followed by burial at Varteg cemetery.

A minute’s silence was held ahead of his team’s game with Llanishen, in Cardiff, at the weekend, where the club also remembered former coach Keith “Beefy” Jones, 58, who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer the same day, after being diagnosed only the week before.

The club also remembered former player and coach Brian Cordy, 77, who died at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, following an illness.

Mr Llewellyn, who had only recently got married, played for Talywain before moving to Garndiffaith in recent months.

Friends described him as a “genuine, honest and lovely bloke”. A family tribute to Mr Llewellyn said: “Dale was the truly adored and utterly devoted husband of Rhiannon (Rio), idolised son of Brian and Cheryl, much-loved brother of Joanne and Julia, beloved uncle, nephew, cousin, son-inlaw, brother-in-law and godson.”

There will be family flowers only, but donations can be made to the Special Care Baby Unit at Nevill Hall Hospital or WRU Little Stars Sports Academy.