Wales and Lions prop forward Adam Jones took time of preparing for the Australia tour to give the shirt of his back to St David’s Hospice Care.
The Ospreys player, picked again for the Lions, also handed the hospice at home charity £8,000 which he raised for the charity during his recent testimonial year.
Pupils from Malpas Court School quizzed the tight head prop about his playing career, his favourite player (Shane Williams), the injuries sustained playing rugby, what he did in his spare time, his hopes for the future and playing for The Lions.
Adam explained that he had selected St David’s Hospice Care as his testimonial year charity after the charity supported Nicole Richards-Jones, Adam’s wife, when her grandfather was diagnosed with cancer in 2002.
Adam said: “St David’s Hospice Care provided my wife’s family with incredible support when they needed it most. It was with great pleasure that I was able to raise money to help support them in the marvellous work they do for free for people in the community with cancer and life-threatening conditions.”
St David’s Hospice Care Chief Executive Emma Saysell said: “We were thrilled when Adam first called us, at the start of his testimonial year, to say he would be raising money for St David’s and we are very pleased now to have been handed the money.
“The marvellous shirt, from the testimonial match, will take pride of place here at our hospice in Malpas. We can’t thank Adam enough for all he has done and for coming to talk to the patients and schoolchildren.”
Ms Saysell, thanking the Mayor of Newport Councillor John Guy for attending, announced that Adam had agreed to become patron the of the charity and to act as an ambassador for St David’s to help in promoting the work of the charity far and wide.