The Amman Valley rugby coach who discovered Wales and Ospreys legend Shane Williams has been killed in a road accident in Spain.

Alan “Chico” Davies died when his car was involved in a head-on collision in Alicante on Thursday evening.

The 63-year-old divorced dad-of-two was seeking a property to buy.

Twenty years ago Mr Davies, of Twyn, Garnant, was coaching Amman United Juniors when he spotted the potential of the ten-year-old Shane.

His death comes just two weeks before his former protégé attends the International Rugby Board awards where he has been nominated for World Player of the Year.

“He’s wasn’t just a very good coach, he was also a very nice guy,” said Shane, 31.

“I really enjoyed my rugby with Amman juniors and much of that was down to him.

“I did some coaching with Chico out in Alicante last year and recently spoke to him about the possibility of doing some more.

“To now hear he’s died in a car crash is just surreal. I’m so sorry for his family.”

Alan King, Mr Davies’s fellow juniors coach, said: “He was very proud of Shane and always kept a close eye on his career.”

Mr Davies’s coaching career also took him to Ireland, Germany and Holland.

His daughter Rina said: “It’s such a shock – he was just so utterly full of life.”

Mr Davies also leaves a son, Ceri, and five grandchildren.