Wales rugby star marries in Denbighshire
Dec 31 2009 by Owen R Hughes, Daily Post
WALES and Sale Sharks rugby star Eifion Lewis Roberts has tied the knot with his fiancé at a Denbighshire chapel.
The 21-stone prop, nicknamed Tarw (Bull), married 23-year-old Nia Williams in her home village of Clawddnewydd, near Ruthin.
The service in a snow-covered chapel was followed by a reception at St David’s Park Hotel in Ewloe.
Eifion, 28, who comes from Ruthin, has been with Nia, who works as a secretary, for four years after meeting her on a night out in the market town.
Speaking on Tuesday evening, he said he was looking forward to the big day.
He said: “It should be a big event, we have a lot of friends and family coming along. We wanted to get married in Nia’s home village of Clawddnewydd.
“I am very excited about it.”
Among those at the ceremony was England and Sale prop Andrew Sheridan. Fellow Wales and Sale star Dwayne Peel was unable to attend.
Any honeymoon plans for the couple will have to wait though as Eifion is straight back on the rugby field for Sale Sharks on New Years Day when they take on Harlequins.
The former farmer, who played as prop for Ruthin, has become a cult figure with Sale fans for his bulldozing runs. A beast on the field, the front rower is shy and softly spoken away off it.
His performances in the Guinness Premiership earned him a call-up to the Welsh squad in 2008 and he started in a victory against Canada, impressing those watching. But he was surprisingly omitted from the squad for this year’s autumn tests despite a shortage of quality scrummagers, with coach Warren Gatland telling the heavyweight to lose weight and improve his mobility.
