PRIOR to the men in red triumphing in Tokyo last Sunday, they were walked onto the pitch by a young lad from Abergavenny who was proud as punch to be flying the flag on such a momentous occasion.

Jacob Clements is a lucky fella. Not many boys his age get to to enjoy an ell-expenses paid five-day break to the land of the Rising Sun, and walk the turf of a pitch which bore witness to one of Warren Gatland’s band of brothers’ most memorable victories.

And it’s all thanks to Emirates Airline.

Proud dad Anthony explained, “Jacob entered a competition a few weeks ago to fly out to Japan and be the flag-bearer at one of Wales’s group games.

“About three weeks ago I got the call on the Monday to inform me he had been successful. However, I didn’t tell him until a week before he was due to fly out because he was at school camp.”

The 10-year-old Gilwern school boy was naturally over the moon upon hearing the news, but it was bittersweet pill for his dad to swallow because he couldn’t get time off work to accompany his son to Tokyo.

“I was gutted to not make the trip. But as it turned out only one adult could accompany him anyway, so my wife Rebecca made the sacrifice,” joked Anthony.

As for Jacob and his mum, they flew out the Friday before the game and had a whale of a time in Tokyo.

Not only did the youngster enjoy the once in a lifetime chance of walking Wales not on to the pitch and flying the flag for the country, he also had a few days to see the sights and bump into the odd famous Welshman who was also there for the game, such as the Manic Street Preachers’ James Dean Bradfield.

Anthony added, “Jacob and his mum had the most amazing experience in Japan and I’m sure it’s both the trip and the memories they made will stay with them for a lifetime.”