"Stella" as this uncompromising centre is known to all is arguably Gilfach's most famous Rugby export. He left in 1986 to join Pontypridd RFC but, as they say: "You can take the boy out of Gilfach......"

Gaining an awsome reputation on the Welsh club scene as a tough tackling midfielder, Stella became a regular in the Wales A team since winning his first cap against France in 1989, and toured Australia with the senior national squad in 1991.

The mainstay of Ponty's threequarter line throughout their Cup and League Championship victories in the mid nineties, and many an epic encounter against top European opposition such as Brive, Bath and Leicester, when Stella spilt blood for the cause.

Stella progressed straight from being a player to backs coach at Sardis Road, before work commitments forced him to stand down in 2004.

He can regularly be seen on the training paddock passing on his vast experience to Gilfach's current senior squad.