Farewell to iconic rugby landmark

The Llanelli-New Zealand score was recreated for Ray Gravell's funeral

One of the most iconic sights in Welsh sport is being dismantled piece by piece to be saved for posterity.

The scoreboard at Llanelli's Stradey Park will have a new home in a museum as the Scarlets regional rugby side prepares to move to a new stadium.

Team names were famously written only in Welsh on the scoreboard.

Rugby legend Phil Bennett said: "When we played the top English sides it gave us an edge - the English lads were baffled by the spelling of their team."

One of the best-known score lines appeared in 1972 when Llanelli beat the New Zealand All Blacks.

When the final whistle blew it read Llanelli 9 - Seland Newydd 3.

It was recreated last year when the funeral of rugby great Ray Gravell attracted thousands of mourners to Stradey Park.

Later this year the Scarlets will relocate to a new purpose built stadium - Parc y Scarlets - on the other side of the town.

Workmen dismantle the Stradey Park scoreboard little by little

The scoreboard is being taken down by one carpenter, piece by piece, so that it can be put back together in a museum at the new ground.

Mr Bennett said: "It was something special - I think it was the Welshness of it all.

"I think it's wonderful news that when the new stadium is open the scoreboard will have a special place in the Ken Jones Museum.

"It will be lovely for the youngsters who heard their fathers and grandfathers take about these games.

"I hope the new scoreboard will be a bit more flashy but they will keep the Welshness of it."

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