FORMER Ebbw Vale fly-half and international referee Ernie Lewis has passed away at the age of 91, writes Chris Kirwan.

A former teacher at Abertillery Grammar-Technical School, the prolific Lewis played for the Steelmen as well as Newport and Abertillery.

He was a regular member of the Monmouthshire county side and played against Australia and New Zealand for a combined Abertillery/Cross Keys side.

Lewis took up refereeing after hanging up his boots and was in the middle for international fixtures and many Barbarians games. He was also touch judge in the 1973 Baa Baas versus New Zealand game that featured Gareth Edwards’ famous try.

After retiring as a referee, Lewis went on to become a WRU referee assessor and president of the Welsh Society of Rugby Referees.

And his links to Eugene Cross Park continued – he proudly watched his son Steve and grandsons James and Robert (twin sons of Steve) and Iestyn follow in his footsteps by turning out for Ebbw Vale.

Roy Lewis, writer for the Ebbw Vale website and matchday programme, said: “Ernie Lewis was our outside half at a special time for the club.

“The 1950s brought success and recognition and after finishing third in the 1950/1 Welsh Championship, we won it the following season under George Gwynn.

“We played 39 games, won 31, drew 2 and lost six, with Ernie topping the century in points scored for the third season in succession, an achievement in days when scores were low.

“His haul of 198 points made him the highest scorer in Welsh rugby in 1951/2, and set a club record that stood for 23 years, until it was broken by his son, Steve.”