Thousands of mourners attended the funeral at Blaenconin Chapel, Llandissilio, on Wednesday, of former Neath and Wales rugby prop Brian Williams, who died suddenly of a heart attack last week. The 46-year-old Pembrokeshire farmer was one of the cornerstones of the Neath pack in the late '80s and early '90s that made the club the most feared in British rugby. Born in Penfford, near Maenclochog, on July 9, 1960, Brian learned his rugby at Ysgol Preseli and then Narberth rugby club. He represented Pembrokeshire before joining Neath in 1983 and formed and all-farming front row with Kevin Phillips and John Davies. Brian made more than 250 appearances for the Welsh All Blacks between 1983 and 1995. In that time he played against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa for the club and helped them win the WRU Challenge Cup twice, the inaugural Heineken League title and two Western Mail championships. He was also at the heart of the side that set a new world tries (385) and points (1,917) records for a season in 1988/89. Four years after retiring, he made a cameo appearance for the club against Georgia and was at The Gnoll the weekend before his death for the players reunion at the Principality Premiership match with Llandovery. Brian's five appearances for Wales came in 1990 and 1991. His debut was against Scotland in Cardiff in 1990 and his final appearance came against England in 1991. David Pickering, WRU chairman, said: "I played with and coached Brian at Neath and I cannot recall ever having seen a fitter player in rugby. He was uncompromising, never knew the meaning of defeat and was a fantastic forward. We fashioned the style of play at Neath around Brian and our mobile forwards. He was the leading light at the club and a man that everyone revered and followed." Roger Lewis, WRU group chief executive, added: "Our thoughts now are with Brian's family and friends following their very sad loss and we offer them our heartfelt condolences. Brian will be missed as a man and remembered as a great prop forward and rugby player in the all conquering Neath side and for Wales. He was a typical farmer and boasted incredible strength and stamina which gave him an awesome presence on the field. He may have been considerably lighter than many of the props he played against, but his strength, skill and power always gave him an edge." Gareth Llewellyn, Wales's most capped forward who played for club and country with Brian, said: Brian was amazing - he was the fittest and most powerful man I ever played rugby with. Pound for pound he was the strongest man in the game. He brought mental toughness and hardness to Neath and gave us all the lead in those areas. The Neath team of the late '80s and early 90s was one of the best sides I have ever played in and it was down to players like Brian that we were so successful and revered." Wales coach Gareth Jenkins added: "Brian was still a young lad and the tragedy of his death has affected us and his family in so many ways. "He was a great and uncompromising player who was also a special human being. "He came from an area of rural Wales where the winning of a Welsh cap was an incredible badge of honour. He was so proud of his achievements, but always behaved with such humility." Last Saturday, the Welsh team paid their respects to Brian by wearing black armbands for the RBS Six Nations match against Scotland, while several leading figures from the rugby world were among those who attended his funeral, where the moving service was conducted by the Rev. Huw George. The mourners were led by his widow, Gwen, and their two daughters, while a tribute was given by Wales defence coach Rowland Phillips, a former team-mate with club and country. The Welsh Rugby Union was represented by chairman David Pickering, who also played alongside Williams.
