Scott Quinnell retired from international rugby to spend more time with his family

The event aimed to stress the importance of fathers, at a time when one in three families are headed by lone parents.

Former Wales captain Quinnell, who has three children, told delegates in Cardiff how he retired from international rugby to balance his work commitments and family life.

Children from a south Wales school also told delegates how their headmaster started bringing fathers, grandfathers and uncles into the classroom to help them learn.

Pupils from the Pen Pych Primary School, Rhondda, shared their views on the impact of the Superdad project at their school.

The initiative was set up by headmaster Gareth Todd Jones after he studied how children's development suffered when fathers are absent, distant or uninvolved.

We have undervalued the contribution of men and fathers to the well-being of our children Peter Clarke, Children's Commissioner for Wales

"There has been a definite improvement in the performance in the classroom," he said.

"The children with active fathers tend to have good social skills."

Monday's conference, named Land of Our Fathers, was organised by Children in Wales and the Fatherhood Wales group ahead of Father's Day on Sunday.

The conference, at St David's Hall, is part of a series of events across the country to examine the importance of male role models for youngsters.

Fathers of disabled children also gave their views on the standard of services and the problems of stereotyping.

Modern fathers

Children's Commissioner for Wales Peter Clarke said the contribution of men to children's development had been undervalued.

"We need to explore and encourage their part in creating communities and relationships in which young people flourish," he said.

Neil Wooding, Equal Opportunities Commissioner for Wales, said modern fathers were spending more time with their family than their own fathers did.

"But it is difficult for them to do more while they work such long hours," he said.

"The knock-on effect is that women and men often have little choice about how they balance work and family."