The 127th annual game between old rivals Christ College and Llandovery College takes place on on Friday, October 18 at Tredegar Close, Llandovery, writes Huw S Thomas.

The encounter was once described by legendary Western Mail Sports Editor JBG Thomas as Wales’s own Varsity Match.

This year’s clash will kick off at 2:30pm.

The recent passing of Old Llandoverian David Irlwyn Gealy is a poignant reminder of the historic place the fixture has in the minds of rugby men.

Tumble-born Dai Gealy, captaining the side from fly half in 1956, produced one of the most dazzling performances in the history of the fixture, in a game that came to be forever known as “the Dai Gealy match.”

No Breconian could lay a hand on him as he scored an astonishing five tries and made two others for wing Colin Elliot in Llandovery’s 31-5 win. 

Eye witnesses still talk of his lightning acceleration from a standing start and mystifying change of direction and it was only illness and injury that stopped him from an Oxford Blue and undoubted further honours in the game.

He returned to his old school after graduation and was Housemaster and Head of English for more than 40 years, was a mentor, friend and counsellor to hundreds of boys, his place in Llandovery folklore - on and off the field - unsurpassable.

Dai often talked of his sadness that fixtures between the two famous rugby schools had been halted after Llandovery’s 46-10 win in 2012, when it was obvious that mismatches were becoming too frequent.

Agreement was reached that fixtures should be halted temporarily but with Brecon rugby strengthened in their partnership with Cardiff Blues, the fixture was revived, to Dai’s great delight, in 2023.

In the two games played since then, each school has claimed victory at home.

In 2023, Llandovery won narrowly 24-19 after a hiatus of 11 years in a humdinger of a game that above all else confirmed the restored quality of Christ College rugby.

The lead changed hands five times, and the game ended in one of the most dramatic ways in the history of the fixture.

In the very last movement of the match, the Lilywhites drove a short range line-out for hooker Henry Nelson to plant the ball bang on the goal-line for the decisive score, followed by a conversion from full back Owain-Hari Davies.

Earlier this year, in February, Christ College got their long awaited win when centre Rhys Pearson hit a finely judged angled penalty five minutes from time to short nose his side ahead 17-16.

It was only the Brecon school’s  29th win in a series that goes back to 1879 when the two of the oldest  rugby playing schools first played each other at neutral Builth Wells.

Llandovery College are the current Welsh Schools and Colleges champions but will be missing a few key players on Friday because of injury and regional obligations.

Wing Thomas Williams has been in the tries, skipper Owen Griffith has been sharp and decisive in the centre and hooker Owen Griffiths has been a real all round force.

Christ College play in the Conference B of the Welsh Schools and Colleges league and although their recent record is patchy, a good 26-19 away win at Neath Port Talbot College will be a confidence booster.

Tom Lowry and James Thomas have been outstanding in the back row, hooker Ioan Evans a strong ball carrier and jackler but also keep on eye on centre Rhys Conquer, - brother of Ebbw Vale No 8 Rhys Conquer - whose explosive running and smart footwork have been a feature.

Great things are expected, too, of Archie Lavington, a young fly half who is improving all the time.

No motivation will be needed when they face their old foes on Friday.

The Lilywhites will be going for their 88th win of a series that has seen some of Wales’s greatest players in action, from Llandovery’s Lions captain Alun-Wyn Jones back to Brecon’s Teddy Morgan who scored the famous try for Wales to beat the All Blacks in 1905.

No one is likely to break Dai Gealy’s record five tries - or even come near it - but effort, commitment and bravery will be certainly as great as ever.