While most in Wales revelled in our national rugby team's 53-30 victory over Japan in the second test in Tokyo at the weekend, there was added interest locally, with two of Wales' nine tries coming from a lad with Tenby connections.

Making a two-try dream debut in the coveted red jersey was 21-year-old Tom Shanklin, son of Tenby's Jim Shanklin.

Educated at The Greenhill School, Jim moved to London to work and gained four full caps for Wales in the early 1970s while playing for London Welsh.

Talented Saracens wing Tom was born in England and had been widely tipped to feature in Clive Woodward's plans for The Old Enemy, but instead he opted for the Land of His Fathers and was drafted in for the second test to replace the injured Mark Jones.

He played a pivotal role in the Welsh win, with two vital second half tries in two minutes, which effectively ended Japanese resistance at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Ground and gave the Welsh a two-nil test series victory.

And there in the stand to witness his son's dazzling debut was proud dad Jim who had jumped on a plane for a 12-hour flight on hearing Tom had been given the nod for his first full cap and had touched down in Tokyo just hours before kick-off.

"I wouldn't have missed it for the world," said Jim.