Two local boys in the form of Llandovery prop Andrew Jones and former Drovers' lock Haydn Pugh turned out for the Barbarians last week and played a full part in a spectacle of rugby in Dublin, writes Huw S Thomas.

Newly-crowned Ulster Bank League champions Clontarf edged home 43-42 in a 13-try thriller against the famous invitational side and it was Pugh who got the opening Baa Baas try soon after kick-off.

Clontarf and the Barbarians – coached for the evening by Ireland Under-20s supremo Mike Ruddock – traded blow for blow and try for try with prop Jones proving his worth at the scrum and Pugh prominent in the loose as well as the line-out.