FORMER Ross-on-Wye teacher and international sporting star Berwyn Jones has been honoured by Wakefield Trinity, nearly 20 years after his death.

Jones, who taught at Ross Secondary Modern School and later John Kyrle High School from 1970 until his retirement, was inducted into the rugby league club's Hall of Fame at the weekend.

His wife Ann, herself a former teacher in Ross, attended the ceremony to collect the award on his behalf. The occasion was particularly memorable for the family as Wakefield had just won the Super League Grand Final.

Born in Rhymney, South Wales, Jones enjoyed a remarkable sporting career before settling in Ross. He became British 100 yards champion in 1963 and helped Britain's relay team equal the world 4 x 110 yards record that year against the United States.

The team's victory included a famous final-leg performance by Jones against American sprinting great Bob Hayes. He also won bronze medals at the 1962 European Championships and Commonwealth Games.

Despite being considered a prospect for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Jones switched sports that year, joining Wakefield Trinity after reportedly attending a trial under the name A Walker to protect his amateur athletics status.

He scored twice in Wakefield's Yorkshire Cup final victory over Leeds and went on to represent Great Britain at rugby league, scoring on his international debut against France.

Jones later toured Australia and New Zealand with the 1966 British Lions before playing for Bradford Northern and St Helens. An Achilles injury ended his playing career and he moved to Ross, where he taught alongside Ann.

He died in 2007 after suffering from motor neurone disease and was inducted into the Welsh Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018.

His daughter Hellie said a book about his sporting life, featuring previously unseen photographs taken during his travels, was due to be published in 2027.