A FUNDRAISING rugby tournament held in memorial for a Maindee fire chief celebrated its eighth year last week.

The Ryan Buckley Tournament, held at Caldicot Rugby Club, saw a record 21 teams from across Gwent, and further afield, take part.

The late station commander at Maindee fire station, who also served as youth coach at the rugby club, died suddenly at the age of 42 in 2009.

According to one of the event's organisers Kyle Deakin, Mr Buckley was a popular figure at the club, who helped to re-establish a 'club culture'.

Since then, Caldicot have produced several players that have played for neighbouring semi-professional sides, with Mr Buckley's own son, Rhys, becoming a professional player for Newport Gwent Dragons.

Mr Deakin, who played under Mr Buckley in the youth set-up, said: "We reiterate year after year that this day is all about fun, which is exactly what Ryan was all about.

"Ryan is a club legend that got the youth team up and running after a number of years in the wilderness back in 2006.

"We now have youth teams competing every year and progressing our local young talent to the senior squads at Caldicot and onto bigger things such as his son Rhys."

Teams were required to play in fancy dress.

The Fijian Warriors were crowned the overall winners, with Average Joe's winning the 'best dressed' award for their Dodgeball-inspired outfits.

Mr Deakin added: "The tournament keeps setting high standards of which I know we can emulate next year."