“Ray was a true legend, not only as a rugby player on the pitch and a Welshman, but as an individual off the pitch as well.Â
“We had asked him to hand out the shirts to the players for our meeting with South Africa next month and were very honoured when he accepted the invitation.
“He was a passionate Welshman and a humble human-being with great integrity and unerring enthusiasm and love for the game of rugby. The kind of man who would come into any room and light it up instantly, he was everything that was good about Welsh rugby from another era.
“In the modern professional game we’ve often talked about breaking free from the shackles of the past, but Ray typified everything that modern players would want to keep from those times and his contributions to the national cause should never be forgotten.
“In his new career as a broadcaster he continued to keep a close relationship with Wales teams over the years and we have had the pleasure of his presence at many games in recent times – always in and around the dressing room and tunnel area keen to shake as many hands as possible.
“Even on the pressure of a matchday, just hours before kick-off you would see players stopping and greeting him and it made a real difference to them to have him wishing them well.
“He was held in such high esteem by everyone, you always knew he was on your side and part of the team. He would often be more excited, more up-tight that the players and the coaches themselves, because he cared so passionately and hid no emotion!
“After his recent illness it was a real boost to the team when he accepted an invitation to come to the Millennium Stadium as the special guest of the team on the day we launched our Rugby World Cup squad just a few short months ago.
“Many of the current players will not even have seen Ray play, but he was able to bridge the gap between generations and everyone was able to appreciate were he came from and respect what he stood for.
“His last playing year at Llanelli rugby club was my first (1984-1985) and I remember him introducing himself to me as a ‘living legend’. He was talking in jest, but that is exactly what he was to me then and continued to be.
“I’m left flooded with fond memories of him, as I’m sure is anyone who had the privilege to know him, his death is a huge loss to the game and to the nation. He was a friend to all he met, a man of delightful character, immense sincerity and humility and my personal thoughts, alongside those of the Wales team, are with his family.”
