HOLLYWOOD superstar Mickey Rourke will join Wales rugby legend Gareth ‘Alfie’ Thomas for his gala dinner in support of a Newport charity at the Celtic Manor Resort in July.

The Oscar-nominated actor and friend of Gareth Thomas and will be joining him at a dinner to honour his career and raise funds for the Gareth Thomas Foundation for Music and Sport.

The two met when Mickey decided he wanted to be involved in a film biopic about Gareth Thomas’s life, which will focus on his experiences of being the first rugby player to come out as gay.

Gareth said, “I am so thrilled that Mickey is coming to support this event both on a personal level and for the charity as I know the chance to meet a Hollywood legend will be too good to miss!

“It is shaping up to be an amazing night and I would urge people to grab tickets while they still can.”

The Hollywood star is a glittering name to add to a growing guest list which includes people from the world of music, sport and television.

Guests already confirmed include; Wales rugby stars Shane Williams, Martyn Williams and Tom Shanklin along with Undefeated World Champion boxer Joe Calzaghe and his girlfriend Strictly Come Dancing star Kristina Rihanoff.

From television, there will be appearances from presenter Gethin Jones and actors Tamsin Outhwaite (Eastenders, Hotel Babylon and musical Sweet Charity) and Tom Ellis (Eastenders and Miranda).

There will also be support from Gareth’s Celebrity Big Brother housemates Natalie Cassidy, Frankie Cocozza, Nicola McLean, Kirk Norcross and Natasha Giggs.

The charity was set up by Gareth Thomas and Newport businessmen Daniel O’Connell and Clayton Richards to bring access to music and sport to disadvantaged youngsters.