NEWPORT rugby legend David Watkins has backed the plans for a statue of Ken Jones.

Meeting last week with the Ken Jones memorial committee secretary, Alan Jones, the former Welsh rugby international presented the committee with a signed Dragons jersey and Dragons tickets to use to raise funds for the appeal.

David Watkins said: “Ken Jones is Wales’ greatest all round sportsman. Ken played club rugby for Newport from 1946 to 1958, thrilled spectators with his speed and guile and scored 17 tries for Wales.

Among that record of tries was the winning effort for Wales in 1953 against the mighty All Blacks.

“A British Lion in 1950, he simply scorched himself against New Zealand, one of those tries in the final Test was regarded as the greatest try ever. Simply the best.”

Over the last couple of months the appeal has received huge support from the community, and schools have got on board to raise money for the statue of the Blaenavon-born international rugby player and Olympic athlete, which could cost as much as £80,000.

The Ken Jones Memorial Fund Committeewould like to thank Newport Gwent Dragons, Newport RFC, David Watkins and Dennis Bennett for there much-valued support for the fund.

Newport RFC has also allowedthe committee to have bucket collections at two games in 2012 to collect money towards the statue.

● If you are planning to organise an event to raise money for the appeal we want to hear fromyou.

E-mail hayley.mills @gwent-wales.co.uk or call Hayley on 01633 777 278.

To donate to the appeal, cheques need to be made out to ‘Ken Jones Memorial Fund’ and posted to the care of Lewis Freeman at 52 Thornhill Close, Upper Cwmbran, Torfaen, NP44 5TQ.

Pupils pitch in to help cause

THE balance for the statue currently stands at £11,557.25, but money is still pouring in as the community sets out to raise the funds needed to produce the statue.

Abersychan School has raised £95.98 by singing carols in Blaenavon and Pontypool, and Cwmffrwdoer Primary School raised £108 with fundraising activities.

West Monmmouth choir sang carols at Tesco in Pontypool and raised £178.

There was a cheque for £37 from Hillside Nursery School in Blaenavon.