Two local authors have come together to release a book on amateur Welsh rugby in time for Christmas.

Sports photographer Ian Williams from Ystradgynlais has partnered with Andrew Hill, an English teacher at Cwntawe School in Pontardawe, to bring the book, ‘All Shapes and Zebras’ to life.

It is an A-Z of amateur Welsh rugby, taking the reader through 26 chapters of facts, figures, comments, reflections and stories, illustrating the wonderful idiosyncratic patchwork of rugby below the professional game.

Andrew, who originally comes from Talgarth in Powys, is a former Gwernyfed RFC wing and captain, while Ian has been covering the game in Wales with Riley Sports Photography for three decades.

In his foreword to the book, ex-Wales scrum-half Rupert Moon pays a warm tribute to Hill and Williams.

“Andrew Hill had the idea of putting his experiences of 15 years playing in the lower levels of Welsh club rugby down in print with 26 short essays of musings and thoughts not only full of nostalgia and longing for past glories, but also with realism and blunt acceptance of certain uncomfortable truths," wrote Moon.

“Like all sport, amateur Welsh rugby has its ‘Good, Bad and Ugly’ and it’s all documented here.”

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Moon adds: “Andrew and Ian have captured that spirit, hwyl and atmosphere – something that, despite difficult times, will always be an integral part of our national sport."

The book includes B for Boxing Day, H for Hard Men, O for Opposition, Q for Queues and R for Referees, and plenty more for rugby lovers to be drawn into and conjure up memories.

There are also more than 150 photos, not just of players of all ages and sizes, but supporters, referees, coaches, committee men, groundsmen, barmen, even burger vans to show the all pervading influence of the game on the Welsh character.

The book is launched at Riley Sporting Memories shop in Ystradgynlais and then at Gwernyfed RFC on Saturday, December 10.