Morgan tribute at 'Grav' funeral

Ray Gravell died on holiday in Spain last month

Details of the public funeral for rugby legend Ray Gravell at his old club Llanelli have been announced.

The service will take place on the field at Stradey Park in front of the South Stand at 1300 GMT on Thursday.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan and fellow 1970's rugby international Gerald Davies will both give tributes to Gravell, who died in Spain aged 56.

He combined broadcasting and acting after his rugby career. His funeral will be broadcast live by BBC Wales.

It will also be shown by S4C.

The ex-Wales and British Lions player was also for many years the eisteddfod swordbearer, and the ceremonial sword will be carried in the funeral procession into Stradey Park by former Scarlets player Robin McBryde.

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It will be the first time ever that the sword has been allowed to be used in ceremonies other than when the gorsedd of bards is present.

The funeral will be conducted by the Reverend Meirion Evans, a former archdruid and friend of Gravell, and Professor Hywel Teifi Edwards will also give a tribute.

Folk singer Dafydd Iwan, Llanelli Male Choir and Burry Port Town Band will also feature in the hour-long service.

Gravell's family have asked for the funeral to be public with no invitations or guest list.

Ray Gravell toured South Africa with the British Lions in 1980

Stradey Park's gates will be opened to the public at 1100 GMT and officials have asked everybody who intends being present to be there by 1230 GMT.

Parking at the ground will be restricted to family and those taking part in the service.

Alternative parking arrangements have been drawn up by Carmarthenshire Council and will be controlled by Dyfed-Powys Police.

The Festival Field car park has been designated as an official parking area for those attending the funeral.

Funeral cortege

Ch Insp Steve Griffiths, who is co-ordinating the police operation said:"It is imperative that people adhere to the parking arrangements in order to ensure there are no traffic problems on the day.

"We ask people to arrive in plenty of time, and to follow the signs and instructions from the police officers."

A private service will take place at Gravell's Mynydygarreg home before the funeral cortege leaves at 1215 GMT under police escort.

It will travel through Trimsaran and into Llanelli, turning into Denham Avenue down to Sandy Road, and then up to Maes y Coed and into Stradey Park by 1240 GMT.

The procession into the ground will be led by three flag bearing children from local schools, followed by Robin McBryde carrying the eisteddfod sword.

Gravell won 23 caps for Wales and also went on the 1980 British Lions tour of South Africa, playing in all four tests.

He died suddenly on a holiday in Spain last month, but earlier in the year had to have part of a leg amputated as a result of complications with diabetes.

His coffin bearers will be Llanelli players past and present: Delme Thomas, the captain of the Llanelli side which beat the All Blacks in 1972, former international Derek Quinnell, the former Wales rugby coach Gareth Jenkins, and Simon Easterby, Stephen Jones and Dwayne Peel.

After the funeral, the cortege will go to Llanelli crematorium, travelling along Sandy Road, Pembrey Road, Gelli Onn and down to Swansea Road.

The service at the crematorium will be strictly private.